lead

noun

1. 1

   the playing of a card to start a trick in bridge

   the lead was in the dummy

2. 2

   a position of leadership (especially in the phrase `take the lead')

   he takes the lead in any group

   we were just waiting for someone to take the lead

3. 3

   a jumper that consists of a short piece of wire

   it was a tangle of jumper cables and clip leads

4. 4

   mixture of graphite with clay in different degrees of hardness; the marking substance in a pencil

5. 5

   thin strip of metal used to separate lines of type in printing

6. 6

   restraint consisting of a rope (or light chain) used to restrain an animal

7. 7

   the timing of ignition relative to the position of the piston in an internal-combustion engine

8. 8

   an advantage held by a competitor in a race

   he took the lead at the last turn

9. 9

   evidence pointing to a possible solution

   the police are following a promising lead

   the trail led straight to the perpetrator

10. 10

    the introductory section of a story

    it was an amusing lead-in to a very serious matter

11. 11

    a news story of major importance

12. 12

    an indication of potential opportunity

    he got a tip on the stock market

    a good lead for a job