2lead noun
plural leads 1 the lead a : a position that is ahead of others
▪ They walked single file, with the oldest boy in the lead. [=with the oldest boy at the front of the line] ▪ You take the lead [=go first] and we'll follow right behind you.
b : a position that is ahead of others in a race or competition
▪ A runner from Kenya is in the lead in the race. [=is leading the race] ▪ A runner from Kenya has/holds the lead. ▪ Her car has taken/gained the lead. = Her car has gone to/into the lead. ▪ He was trailing in the polls last week, but now he has regained the lead. — often used figuratively ▪ Their company has taken the lead in developing this new technology. 2 [count] : the amount or distance by which someone or something is ahead in a race or competition — usually singular ▪ Her car had a lead of 12 seconds over the next one. ▪ They had a lead of 20 points. = They had a 20-point lead. ▪ a narrow/slim lead ▪ Our candidate has established a comfortable/commanding lead in the opinion polls. 3 [count] : a piece of information that could help produce a desired result
▪ I'm a good salesman, but I need more leads. [=names of potential customers] ; especially : a piece of information that might help in solving a crime
▪ The police have no leads in the case. ▪ Investigators are working on several leads. 4 [count] a : the main role in a movie or play
▪ Her big break came when she got/played the lead in a major Hollywood movie. ▪ He played the lead opposite Bette Davis [=he starred with Bette Davis] in two films. ▪ She got the lead role. ; also : someone who plays the main role in movie or play
▪ She was the romantic lead in a major Hollywood movie. ▪ Who will be the male/female lead in his next film?
b : the main performer in a group
▪ He sang/played lead [=sang/played as the main performer] in the band. — usually used before another noun ▪ the lead singer/guitarist 5 [count] a : the beginning part of a news story
▪ You should edit the lead so that it will grab the audience's attention.
b : the most important news story in a newspaper or broadcast
▪ The story of his arrest was the lead in newspapers across the country. ▪ His arrest was the lead story [=the first and most important story] on the evening news. 6 [count] baseball : a position taken by a runner at a distance from a base before a pitch is thrown
▪ The runner on first took a big lead. [=moved several steps toward second base] ▪ The runner had a large lead off second base. [=stood several steps away from second base in the space between second and third base] 7 [count] chiefly Brit : 1leash
▪ train a dog to walk on a lead 8 [count] chiefly Brit : a wire that carries electricity from a source to an electrical device (such as a lamp or radio) : an electrical cord
▪ They walked single file, with the oldest boy in the lead. [=with the oldest boy at the front of the line] ▪ You take the lead [=go first] and we'll follow right behind you.
b : a position that is ahead of others in a race or competition
▪ A runner from Kenya is in the lead in the race. [=is leading the race] ▪ A runner from Kenya has/holds the lead. ▪ Her car has taken/gained the lead. = Her car has gone to/into the lead. ▪ He was trailing in the polls last week, but now he has regained the lead. — often used figuratively ▪ Their company has taken the lead in developing this new technology.
▪ I'm a good salesman, but I need more leads. [=names of potential customers] ; especially : a piece of information that might help in solving a crime
▪ The police have no leads in the case. ▪ Investigators are working on several leads.
▪ Her big break came when she got/played the lead in a major Hollywood movie. ▪ He played the lead opposite Bette Davis [=he starred with Bette Davis] in two films. ▪ She got the lead role. ; also : someone who plays the main role in movie or play
▪ She was the romantic lead in a major Hollywood movie. ▪ Who will be the male/female lead in his next film?
b : the main performer in a group
▪ He sang/played lead [=sang/played as the main performer] in the band. — usually used before another noun ▪ the lead singer/guitarist
▪ You should edit the lead so that it will grab the audience's attention.
b : the most important news story in a newspaper or broadcast
▪ The story of his arrest was the lead in newspapers across the country. ▪ His arrest was the lead story [=the first and most important story] on the evening news.
▪ The runner on first took a big lead. [=moved several steps toward second base] ▪ The runner had a large lead off second base. [=stood several steps away from second base in the space between second and third base]
▪ train a dog to walk on a lead
follow someone's lead
: to do the same thing that someone else has done
▪ He followed her lead and voted in favor of the proposal.
▪ He followed her lead and voted in favor of the proposal.
— compare 3lead
