lead

The role or action of guiding others, directing work, or showing what to do.

• Please take the lead today.
• We followed her lead and started cleaning.
• He took the lead in planning the new project.

How to use it: take the lead in doing something (She took the lead in organizing the meeting.); follow someone's lead (I followed his lead and introduced myself.)

Similar words: guidance, leadership, direction

Common phrases: take the lead, follow someone's lead, give a lead

A strap or rope attached to an animal so you can guide it and keep it close.

• Keep the dog on a lead.
• She bought a longer lead for her puppy.
• His dog pulled hard on its lead.

Similar words: leash

Common phrases: a dog lead, on a lead, off the lead

A heavy, soft, grey metal used in batteries and some building materials.

• This weight is made of lead.
• The old house still has lead pipes.
• Children should never swallow paint containing lead.

Common phrases: made of lead, lead poisoning, lead pipes, a lead weight

To guide people by deciding what they should do or showing them how to do it.

• She leads our team.
• He led the orchestra at last night's concert.
• Who will lead the discussion tomorrow?

How to use it: lead someone in something (The teacher led the children in a song.)

Similar words: direct, guide, head

Opposites: follow

Common phrases: lead a team, lead a discussion, lead an orchestra

A road, path, or opening goes towards a particular place.

• This path leads to the beach.
• The stairs led down to a small kitchen.
• Where does this road lead?

How to use it: lead to somewhere (The narrow lane leads to the river.); lead into something (This door leads into the garden.)

Similar words: go, extend

Common phrases: lead to something, lead into something, lead upstairs

To go ahead of other people and show them the way by having them follow you.

• You know the way, so lead us.
• She led the children across the road.
• Who will lead the group through the caves?

How to use it: lead someone to + place (He led us to the station.); lead someone through something (Our guide led us through the forest.)

Similar words: guide, show the way

Opposites: follow

Common phrases: lead the way, lead someone home, lead someone to something

To cover or fill something with a heavy, soft metal.

• Repeated firing can lead the barrel.
• Soft bullets led the grooves inside the rifle.
• This process leads the surface with a thin metal layer.

Common phrases: lead a surface, lead the barrel

Having the main or most important role in something.

• She is the lead singer.
• He played the lead role in our school show.
• The lead researcher presented the results.

Similar words: main, principal, chief

Common phrases: lead role, lead singer, lead investigator