Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - lead

 I. verb  (led; ~ing)  Etymology: Middle English leden, from Old English l?dan; akin to Old High German leiten to ~, Old English lithan to go  Date: before 12th century  transitive verb  1.  a. to guide on a way especially by going in advance  b. to direct on a course or in a direction  c. to serve as a channel for a pipe ~s water to the house  2. to go through ; live ~ a quiet life  3.  a.  (1) to direct the operations, activity, or performance of ~ an orchestra  (2) to have charge of ~ a campaign  (3) to suggest to (a witness) the answer desired by asking ~ing questions  b.  (1) to go at the head of ~ a parade  (2) to be first in or among ~ the league  (3) to have a margin over led his opponent  4. to bring to some conclusion or condition led to believe otherwise  5. to begin play with ~ trumps  6.  a. to aim in front of (a moving object) ~ a duck  b. to pass a ball or puck just in front of (a moving teammate)  intransitive verb  1.  a. to guide someone or something along a way  b. to lie, run, or open in a specified place or direction path ~s uphill  c. to guide a dance partner through the steps of a dance  2.  a. to be first  b.  (1) begin, open  (2) to play the first card of a trick, round, or game  3. to tend toward or have a result study ~ing to a degree  4. to direct the first of a series of blows at an opponent in boxing  Synonyms: see guide  II. noun  Date: 15th century  1.  a.  (1) ~ership  (2) example, precedent  b.  (1) position at the front ; vanguard  (2) initiative  (3) the act or privilege of ~ing in cards; also the card or suit led  c. a margin or measure of advantage or superiority or position in advance  2. one that ~s: as  a. lode 2  b. a channel of water especially through a field of ice  c. indication, clue  d. a principal role in a dramatic production; also one who plays such a role  e. leash 1  f.  (1) an introductory section of a news story  (2) a news story of chief importance  3. an insulated electrical conductor connected to an electrical device  4. the course of a rope from end to end  5. the amount of axial advance of a point accompanying a complete turn of a thread (as of a screw or worm)  6. a position taken by a base runner off a base toward the next  7. the first punch of a series or an exchange of punches in boxing  • ~less adjective  III. adjective  Date: 1828 acting or serving as a ~ or ~er a ~ article  IV. noun  Usage: often attributive  Etymology: Middle English leed, from Old English lead; akin to Middle High German lot ~  Date: before 12th century  1. a bluish-white soft malleable ductile plastic but inelastic heavy metallic element found mostly in combination and used especially in pipes, cable sheaths, batteries, solder, and shields against radioactivity — see element table  2.  a. a plummet for sounding at sea  b. plural, British a usually flat ~ roof  c. plural ~ framing for panes in windows  d. a thin strip of metal used to separate lines of type in printing  3.  a. a thin stick of marking substance (as graphite) in or for a pencil  b. white ~  4. bullets, projectiles  5. tetraethyl ~  • ~less adjective  V. transitive verb  Date: 14th century  1. to cover, line, or weight with ~  2. to fix (window glass) in position with ~s  3. to put space between the lines of (typeset matter)  4. to treat or mix with ~ or a ~ compound ~ed gasoline