lead

I. lead1 S1 W1 /liːd/ BrE AmE verb (past tense and past participle led /led/)
[Word Family: noun: lead, ↑leader, ↑leadership; adjective: lead, ↑leading; verb: ↑lead]
[Language: Old English; Origin: lædan]
1. TAKE SOMEBODY SOMEWHERE [intransitive and transitive] to take someone somewhere by going in front of them while they follow, or by pulling them gently
lead somebody to/into etc something
A nurse took her arm and led her to a chair.
The horses were led to safety.
lead somebody away/down etc
She was led away from the courtroom in tears.
The manager led the way through the office.
2. GO IN FRONT [intransitive and transitive] to go in front of a line of people or vehicles:
A firetruck was leading the parade.
3. BE IN CHARGE [intransitive and transitive] to be in charge of an organization, country, or team, or a group of people who are trying to do something:
He has led the party for over twenty years.
Some people say she is too old to lead the country (=be in charge of its government).
Beckham led his team to victory.
lead an investigation/inquiry/campaign
The investigation will be led by Inspector Scarfe.
They are leading a campaign to warn teenagers about the dangers of drug abuse.
lead a revolt/rebellion/coup etc
The rebellion was led by the King’s brother.
lead an attack/assault
Nelson preferred to lead the attack himself from the front.
a man who was born to lead
a communist-led strike
4. CAUSE SOMETHING TO HAPPEN [intransitive and transitive] to cause something to happen or cause someone to do something
lead to
the events that led to the start of the First World War
A degree in English could lead to a career in journalism.
lead somebody into something
Her trusting nature often led her into trouble.
lead somebody to do something
What led him to kill his wife?
lead to somebody doing something
His actions could lead to him losing his job.
5. CAUSE SOMEBODY TO BELIEVE SOMETHING [transitive] to make someone believe something, especially something that is not true
lead somebody to believe/expect/understand something
He had led everyone to believe that his family was very wealthy.
The hotel was terrible, and not at all what we had been led to expect.
Our research led us to the conclusion that the present system is unfair.
6. INFLUENCE [transitive] to influence someone to make them do something that is wrong
lead somebody into something
His brother led him into a life of crime.
He’s not a bad boy. He’s just easily led (=it is easy for other people to persuade him to do things that he should not do).
7. BE MORE SUCCESSFUL [transitive] to be more successful than other people, companies, or countries in a particular activity
lead the world/market/pack/field
US companies lead the world in biotechnology.
lead the way (=be the first to do something, and show other people how to do it)
The Swedes have led the way in data protection. ⇨ ↑leading1(1)
8. BE WINNING [intransitive and transitive] to be winning a game, competition etc OPP lose:
At half-time, Brazil led 1–0.
With 15 laps to go, Schumacher led the race.
The polls showed Clinton leading Bush 55 percent to 34 percent.
lead by ten points/two goals etc
Nadal was leading by two sets.
9. PATH/DOOR ETC [intransitive, transitive always + adverb/preposition] used to say where a path, wire etc goes or what place is on the other side of a door
lead to/towards
The path led down to a small lake.
lead from/out of
the major artery leading from the heart
lead into
the door leading into the hallway
lead somebody to/into something
The riverside path leads visitors to a small chapel.
10. LIFE [transitive] if you lead a particular kind of life, that is what your life is like
lead a normal/quiet/busy etc life
If the operation succeeds, Carly will be able to lead a normal life.
He has led a charmed life (=been very fortunate).
lead a life of luxury/poverty etc
lead the life of a ...
She now leads the life of a recluse.
lead a double life (=deceive people by keeping different parts of your life separate and not letting anyone know the whole truth)
Joe had been leading a double life, seeing an ex-model while his wife believed he was on business.
They lead a nomadic existence.
11. DISCUSSION ETC [transitive always + adverb/preposition] to control the way a discussion, conversation etc develops:
I tried to lead the conversation back to the subject of money.
12. lead somebody up the garden path informal to deliberately deceive someone
13. lead somebody astray
a) to encourage someone to do bad or immoral things which they would not normally do
b) to make someone believe something that is not true
14. lead nowhere/not lead anywhere to not produce any useful result:
So far police investigations seem to have led nowhere.
15. lead by example to show the people you are in charge of what you want them to do by doing it yourself:
The best managers lead by example.
16. lead somebody by the nose to influence someone so much that you can completely control everything that they do:
Politicians think they can easily lead people by the nose.
17. this/that leads (me) to something used to introduce a new subject that is connected to the previous one:
That leads me to my final point. Where are we going to get the money?
18. somebody has their own life to lead used to say that someone wants to be able to live their life independently, without having to do things that other people want them to do
19. lead somebody a merry old dance/a right old dance British English to cause a lot of problems or worries for someone
20. market-led/export-led etc most influenced by the market, by ↑exports etc:
an export-led economic recovery
21. lead the eye if a picture, view etc leads the eye in a particular direction, it makes you look in that direction:
marble columns that lead the eye upward
22. CARD GAME [intransitive and transitive] to play a particular card as your first card in one part of a card game
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ lead to take a person or animal somewhere by going in front of them while they follow, or by pulling them gently: Rachel led Jo into the kitchen. | She was leading a horse, which seemed to have a bad leg.
▪ take to take someone somewhere with you when you have the transport, know the way, are paying etc: I took her to see a film. | Matt’s taking me in his car.
▪ guide to take someone through or to a place you know, showing them the way: Ali guided us through the streets to his house on the edge of the town.
▪ show to take someone to a place such as a table in a restaurant or a hotel room and leave them there: A waitress showed us to our table. | We were shown to our seats near the front of the theatre.
▪ point to show someone which direction to go using your hand or a sign: The sign back there pointed this way.
▪ escort to take someone somewhere, protecting them, guarding them, or showing them the way: He was escorted from the court by police. | The President’s car will be escorted by a military convoy.
▪ usher to show someone the way to a room or building nearby, usually as part of your job: His housekeeper ushered us into the living room.
▪ shepherd to carefully take someone somewhere – used especially about a group of people: The police shepherded thousands of people to safety in the cathedral.
▪ direct formal to tell someone where to go or how to get somewhere: He directed us to a cafe a few blocks away. | Can you direct me to the station?
lead off phrasal verb
1. to start a meeting, discussion, performance etc by saying or doing something:
I’d like to lead off by thanking Rick for coming.
lead off with
The French team led off with two quick goals in the first five minutes.
lead something ↔ off
Hal led the evening off with some folk songs.
2. lead off (something) if a road, room etc leads off a place, you can go directly from that place along that road, into that room etc
lead off from something
He pointed down a street leading off from the square.
a large room, with doors leading off it in all directions
3. to be the first player to try to hit the ball in an ↑inning (=period of play) in a game of baseball
lead somebody on phrasal verb
to deceive someone, especially to make them think you love them:
He thought she loved him, but in fact she was just leading him on.
lead on to something (also lead onto something) phrasal verb especially British English
to cause something to develop or become possible at a later time:
Alan Turing’s work led onto the development of modern computers.
lead with something phrasal verb
1. if a newspaper or television programme leads with a particular story, that story is the main one:
The Washington Post leads with the latest news from Israel.
2. to use a particular hand to begin an attack in ↑boxing, or a particular foot to begin a dance:
Adam led with his left and punched his opponent on the jaw.
lead up to something phrasal verb [not in passive]
1. if a series of events or a period of time leads up to an event, it comes before it or causes it:
the weeks that led up to her death
the events leading up to his dismissal
2. to gradually introduce an embarrassing, upsetting, or surprising subject into a conversation:
She had already guessed what he was leading up to.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

lead

▪ I. lead 1 [lead leads led leading] verb, noun [liːd] [liːd]

see also lead2

verb (led, led [led] ; [led] )

SHOW THE WAY
1. intransitive, transitive to go with or in front of a person or an animal to show the way or to make them go in the right direction
Syn: guide
• If you lead, I'll follow.
• ~ sb/sth + adv./prep. He led us out into the grounds.
• The receptionist led the way to the boardroom.
• She led the horse back into the stable.

• (figurative) I tried to lead the discussion back to the main issue.

CONNECT TWO THINGS

2. intransitive ~ from/to sth (to/from sth) to connect one object or place to another
• the pipe leading from the top of the water tank

• The wire led to a speaker.

OF ROAD/PATH/DOOR

3. intransitive, transitive to go in a particular direction or to a particular place
• + adv./prep. A path led up the hill.
• Which door leads to the yard?

• ~ sb + adv./prep. The track led us through a wood.

CAUSE

4. intransitive ~ to sth to have sth as a result
Syn: result in
• Eating too much sugar can lead to health problems.

• A reward was offered for information leading to an arrest.

5. transitive to be the reason why sb does or thinks sth
• ~ sb (to sth) What led you to this conclusion?
• He's too easily led (= easily persuaded to do or think sth).
• ~ sb to do sth This has led scientists to speculate on the existence of other galaxies.

• The situation is far worse than we had been led to believe.

LIFE

6. transitive ~ sth to have a particular type of life

• to lead a quiet life/a life of luxury/a miserable existence

BE BEST/FIRST

7. transitive, intransitive to be the best at sth; to be in first place
• ~ (sb/sth) (in sth) The department led the world in cancer research.
• We lead the way in space technology.

• ~ (sb/sth) by sth The champion is leading (her nearest rival) by 18 seconds.

BE IN CONTROL

8. transitive, intransitive ~ (sth) to be in control of sth; to be the leader of sth
• to lead an expedition
• to lead a discussion

• Who will lead the party in the next election?

IN CARD GAMES

9. intransitive, transitive to play first; to play sth as your first card
• It's your turn to lead.
• ~ sth to lead the ten of clubs
Syn: mislead, see the blind leading the blind at blind adj., you can lead/take a horse to water, but you can't make it drink at horse n., lead/live the life of Riley at life, one thing leads to another at thing
Verb forms:

Word Origin:
Old English lǣdan Germanic Dutch leiden German leiten load lode

Thesaurus:
lead verb
1. T, I
• The survivors were led to safety.
take • • escort • • show • • walk • • guide • • usher • |formal accompany •
Opp: follow
lead/take/escort/show/walk/guide/usher/accompany sb to/out of/into sth
lead/take/escort/walk/guide/usher/accompany sb there/somewhere
lead/take/escort/show/walk/guide sb round/around
lead/show the way
2. I, T (always used with an adverb or preposition)
• A path leads to the beach.
go • • continue • • reach • • stretch • • extend •
lead/go/continue/reach/stretch/extend beyond/across sth
lead/go/continue/reach/stretch/extend from sth to sth
3. T
• What led you to this conclusion?
prompt • • make • • motivate • |formal induce • • predispose •
lead/predispose sb to sth
lead/prompt/motivate/induce/predispose sb to do sth
make sb do sth
4. I, T
• The champion is leading by 18 seconds.
• They lead the world in cancer research.
be ahead of sb • • leave sb/sth behind • • get ahead • • overtake • • pass • |written, especially business outpace •
Opp: trail
lead/be ahead of sb/leave sb behind/get ahead/overtake in sth
lead/be ahead of sb/overtake a rival
5. T, I
• He led an expedition to the North Pole.
head • • chair • • captain • |formal preside • |especially journalism spearhead •
lead/head/captain a team
lead/head a (political) party/the government
lead/head/chair/preside over a/an commission/committee/inquiry
Head or lead? A person who heads sth has the official position of being the head of it. A person who leads sth may also have an official position, but the verb lead emphasizes their leadership qualities. An individual usually heads sth, but a group of people can lead sth.
Language Bank:
cause
X causes Y
▪ Childhood obesity can cause ▪ / lead to ▪ long-term health problems.
▪ Changes in lifestyle and diet over the last twenty years have caused ▪ / led to ▪ / resulted in ▪ a sharp increase in childhood obesity.
▪ Several factors, including changes in diet and lifestyle, have contributed to ▪ the increase in childhood obesity.
▪ Research suggests that fast food and soft drinks directly contribute to ▪ childhood obesity.
▪ Genetics, lifestyle and diet are ▪ all important factors ▪ in cases of childhood obesity.
▪ Even small changes in lifestyle and diet can bring about ▪ significant weight loss.
Language Banks at because of, consequently, therefore
Synonyms:
take
lead • escort • drive • show • walk • guide • usher • direct
These words all mean to go with sb from one place to another.
take • to go with sb from one place to another, for example in order to show them sth or to show them the way to a place: ▪ It's too far to walk— I'll take you by car.
lead • to go with or go in front of sb in order to show them the way or to make them go in the right direction: ▪ Firefighters led the survivors to safety.
escort • to go with sb in order to protect or guard them or to show them the way: ▪ The president arrived, escorted by twelve bodyguards.
drive • to take sb somewhere in a car, taxi, etc: ▪ My mother drove us to the airport.
show • to take sb to a particular place, in the right direction, or along the correct route: ▪ The attendant showed us to our seats.
walk • to go somewhere with sb on foot, especially in order to make sure that they get there safely; to take an animal, especially a dog, for a walk or make an animal walk somewhere: ▪ He always walked her home. ◊ ▪ Have you walked the dog yet today?
guide • to show sb the way to a place, often by going with them; to show sb a place that you know well: ▪ She guided us through the busy streets. ◊ ▪ We were guided around the museums.
usher • (rather formal) to politely take or show sb where they should go, especially within a building: ▪ She ushered her guests to their seats.
direct • (rather formal) to tell or show sb how to get somewhere or where to go: ▪ A young woman directed them to the station.
to take/lead/escort/drive/show/walk/guide/usher/direct sb to/out of/into sth
to take/lead/escort/drive/show/walk/guide sb around/round
to take/lead/escort/drive/walk sb home
to take/lead/escort/guide sb to safety
to lead/show the way
Example Bank:
• ‘Lead on!’ said Arnold.
• An old track led back through the wood.
• Business success does not automatically lead to financial success.
• Discussion of a client's tax affairs will lead naturally into consideration of investment options.
• Five people helping to lead a convoy of aid are feared dead.
• I tried to lead as normal a life as possible.
• Industrialization inevitably led to the expansion of the urban working class.
• Let me lead the way.
• Often there are discoveries which lead nowhere.
• She led them along a dark corridor to a small room.
• Some children are easily led.
• Such actions would most likely lead to the decline of rural communities.
• Sugar and fat can easily lead to obesity.
• Sugar and fat can more easily lead to obesity than some other foods.
• The carbon tax might well lead to a doubling of prices for fossil fuels.
• The gardens lead directly onto a beach.
• The glass doors lead out onto a rooftop garden.
• The use of soft drugs does not necessarily lead to a progression to hard drugs.
• These measures in turn led to an increased opportunity for independent music production.
• Worrying about your weight is more likely to lead to comforting yourself with a piece of chocolate.
• Worrying about your weight is more likely to lead to low self-esteem.
• You lead the way and we'll follow.
• a path leading from the village to the old church
• the events that led eventually to war
• Detective Inspector Adrian Eakins, who is leading the hunt for the killer, has called a press conference.
• Disconnect the pipe leading from the top of the water tank.
• Firefighters led the survivors to safety.
• He led the first expedition to the North Pole.
• He led the race for eight laps until his engine blew.
• If you lead, I'll follow.
• She is leading her nearest rival by 18 seconds.
• The campaign for the ban had been led by Greenpeace and the World Wide Fund for Nature.
• The firm's solid construction standards still lead the field.
• The project is run by a team of experts led by Andrew Hall.
• The situation is far worse than we had been led to believe.
• This has led scientists to speculate on the existence life on other planets.
• Top management should be seen to lead by example.
• What we found leads us to suspect that more people may be involved.
• Who will lead the party into the next election?
Idioms: lead from the front ▪ lead nowhere ▪ lead somebody a dance ▪ lead somebody by the nose ▪ lead somebody up the garden path

Derived: lead off ▪ lead off something ▪ lead somebody on ▪ lead something off ▪ lead up to something ▪ lead with something

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition

lead / liːd / verb [ I or T ] ( led , led / led / ) (CONTROL)

B2 to control a group of people, a country, or a situation:

I think we've chosen the right person to lead the expedition.

I've asked Gemma to lead the discussion.

Who will be leading the inquiry into the accident?

lead / liːd / verb [ I or T ] ( led , led / led / ) (BE WINNING)

B2 (especially in sport or other competitions) to be in front, to be first, or to be winning:

After 30 minutes the challengers were leading by two goals.

With two laps to go Ngomo led by less than two seconds.

The Lions are leading the Hawks 28–9.

lead / liːd / verb [ T ] ( led , led / led / ) (INFLUENCE)

C2 to cause someone to do something, especially something bad:

[ + to infinitive ] The brochure led me to believe that the price included home delivery.

It's worrying that such a prominent politician is so easily led.

He was a weak man, led astray by ambition.

lead / liːd / verb ( led , led / led / ) (SHOW WAY)

B1 [ I ] to show the way to a group of people, animals, vehicles, etc. by going in front of them:

I don't know the way, so you'd better lead.

If you lead in the jeep, we'll follow behind on the horses.

[ T ] To lead a group of moving people or vehicles is to walk or drive in front of them:

The local youth band will lead the parade this weekend.

A large black hearse led the funeral procession.

B1 [ T usually + adv/prep ] to take someone somewhere, by going with them:

She led them down the hall.

The waiter led us to our table.

Our guide led us through the mountains.

B1 [ T usually + adv/prep ] to take hold of a person or an animal, or of something fastened to them, and take them somewhere:

She took the child by the hand and led him upstairs to bed.

He led the horse out of the stable.

lead the way to show the way by going in front:

You've been there before - why don't you lead the way?

to make more progress than other people in the development of something:

The company has been leading the way in network applications for several years.

lead / liːd / verb [ I or T , usually + adv/prep ] ( led , led / led / ) (DIRECTION)

B2 (especially of roads, paths, doors, signs, information, etc.) to go in a particular direction or have a particular result, or to allow or cause this:

There's a track that leads directly to the reservoir.

The French windows lead out onto a wide, shady terrace.

A narrow trail of blood led directly into the cave.

This information led the police to a house near the harbour.

lead / liːd / verb ( led , led / led / ) (LIVE)

lead a busy, normal, quiet, etc. life B2 to live a particular type of life:

He was able to lead a normal life, despite the illness.

We certainly don't lead a life of luxury but we're not poor either.

Collins Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

lead

I BEING AHEAD OR TAKING SOMEONE SOMEWHERE
♦
leads, leading, led
(Pronounced [li͟ːd] in lead 1, and [le̱d] in lead 2.)
1) VERB If you lead a group of moving people, you walk or ride in front of them.
  [V n] John Major and the Duke of Edinburgh led the mourners...
  [V n prep/adv] He walks with a stick but still leads his soldiers into battle...
  Tom was leading, a rifle slung over his back.
2) VERB If you lead someone to a particular place or thing, you take them there.
  [V n prep/adv] He took Dickon by the hand to lead him into the house...
  [V n prep/adv] She confessed to the killing and led police to his remains...
  [V n] Leading the horse, Evandar walked to the door.
3) VERB If a road, gate, or door leads somewhere, you can get there by following the road or going through the gate or door.
  [V prep/adv] ...the doors that led to the yard.
  [V prep/adv] ...a short roadway leading to the car park...
  [V prep/adv] Hundreds of people are said to have blocked a main highway leading north.
4) VERB If you are leading at a particular point in a race or competition, you are winning at that point.
  He's leading in the presidential race...
  [V by amount] So far Fischer leads by five wins to two...
  [V n] Aston Villa last led the League in March 1990.
5) N-SING: the N, oft in/into the N If you have the lead or are in the lead in a race or competition, you are winning.
  England took the lead after 31 minutes with a goal by Peter Nail...
  Labour are still in the lead in the opinion polls.
6) N-SING: with supp, oft N over n Someone's lead over a competitor at a particular point in a race or competition is the distance, amount of time, or number of points by which they are ahead of them.
  ...a commanding lead for the opposition is clearly emerging throughout the country.
  His goal gave Forest a two-goal lead against Southampton...
  Sainz now has a lead of 28 points.
7) VERB If one company or country leads others in a particular activity such as scientific research or business, it is more successful or advanced than they are in that activity.
  [V n] When it comes to pop music we not only lead Europe, we lead the world.
  [V n in n] ...foodstores such as Marks & Spencer, which led the market in microwavable meals.
8) VERB If you lead a group of people, an organization, or an activity, you are in control or in charge of the people or the activity.
  [V n] He led the country between 1949 and 1984...
  [V n] Mr Mendes was leading a campaign to save Brazil's rainforest from exploitation.
9) N-COUNT: usu supp N If you give a lead, you do something new or develop new ideas or methods that other people consider to be a good example or model to follow.
  ...the need for the president to give a moral lead...
  The American and Japanese navies took the lead in the development of naval aviation...
  Over the next 150 years, many others followed his lead.
10) VERB You can use lead when you are saying what kind of life someone has. For example, if you lead a busy life, your life is busy.
  [V n] She led a normal, happy life with her sister and brother...
  [V n] Most of the women in here are not people who have led a life of crime.
11) VERB If something leads to a situation or event, usually an unpleasant one, it begins a process which causes that situation or event to happen.
  [V to n] Ethnic tensions among the republics could lead to civil war...
  [V to n] He warned yesterday that a pay rise for teachers would lead to job cuts.
12) VERB If something leads you to do something, it influences or affects you in such a way that you do it.
  [V n to-inf] His abhorrence of racism led him to write The Algiers Motel Incident...
  [V n to-inf] What was it ultimately that led you to leave Sarajevo for Zagreb?
13) VERB If you say that someone or something led you to think something, you mean that they caused you to think it, although it was not true or did not happen.
  [V n to-inf] Mother had led me to believe the new baby was a kind of present for me...
  [V n to-inf] It was not as straightforward as we were led to believe.
14) VERB If you lead a conversation or discussion, you control the way that it develops so that you can introduce a particular subject.
  [V n adv/prep] After a while I led the conversation around to her job...
  [V n] He planned to lead the conversation and keep Matt from changing the subject.
15) VERB You can say that one point or topic in a discussion or piece of writing leads you to another in order to introduce a new point or topic that is linked with the previous one.
  [V n to n] Well, I think that leads me to the real point.
  Syn:
  bring
16) N-COUNT A lead is a piece of information or an idea which may help people to discover the facts in a situation where many facts are not known, for example in the investigation of a crime or in a scientific experiment.
  The inquiry team is also following up possible leads after receiving 400 calls from the public.
17) N-COUNT The lead in a play, film, or show is the most important part in it. The person who plays this part can also be called the lead.
  Nina Ananiashvili and Alexei Fadeyechev from the Bolshoi Ballet dance the leads...
  The leads are Jack Hawkins and Glynis Johns.
18) N-COUNT A dog's lead is a long, thin chain or piece of leather which you attach to the dog's collar so that you can control the dog. [mainly BRIT]
  An older man came out with a little dog on a lead.
  Syn:
  leash(in AM, use leash)
19) N-COUNT A lead in a piece of equipment is a piece of wire covered in plastic which supplies electricity to the equipment or carries it from one part of the equipment to another.
20) N-SING: oft N n The lead story or lead in a newspaper or on the television or radio news is the most important story.
  The Turkish situation makes the lead in tomorrow's Guardian...
  Cossiga's reaction is the lead story in the Italian press.
21) → See also leading, -led
to lead someone astray → see astray
one thing led to another → see thing
to lead the way → see way
  Phrasal Verbs:
  - lead off
  - lead on
  - lead on to
  - lead up toII SUBSTANCES
leads
(Pronounced [li͟ːd] in lead 1, and [le̱d] in lead 2.)
1) N-UNCOUNT Lead is a soft, grey, heavy metal.
  ...drinking water supplied by old-fashioned lead pipes.
2) N-UNCOUNT Lead is sometimes used to refer to bullets. [INFORMAL]
  Eventually Bogart pumps him full of lead.
  Syn:
  bullets
3) N-COUNT The lead in a pencil is the centre part of it which makes a mark on paper.

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

¹lead /ˈliːd/ verb leads; led /ˈlɛd/; lead·ing
1 a : to guide someone to a place especially by going in front

[no obj]

• You lead and we'll follow right behind you.

[+ obj]

• He led [=took] me into a room in the back of the house.
• You lead us and we'll follow right behind you.
- often + to
• The teacher led the child by the hand to his seat. = The teacher took the child's hand and led him to his seat.
• Our hostess led us to the dinner table.
- often used as (be) led
• The passengers were led onto/aboard the ship by the steward.
• The prisoner was led off to jail [=was taken to jail] in handcuffs.
- often used figuratively
• I gradually led the interview around/back to the subject of his failed marriage.
• He says that he will follow the evidence wherever it leads (him).
• This leads me to my next point, which is that the building needs a new roof.
• The painting's composition leads the/your eye to the figures in the foreground. [=causes you to look at the figures in the foreground]
b [+ obj] : to go or be at the front part of (something)
• The veterans will lead a parade down Main Street.
• lead a march
2 [no obj] : to lie or go in a specified direction
• The path leads uphill.
• This road doesn't lead to the village as we thought it did.
• a set of stairs that leads down to the basement
• There was a path leading (off) from the meadow into the woods.
- often used figuratively
• She realized that their relationship would never lead to marriage.
• The investigation into the murder was leading nowhere. [=the investigation was not solving the crime]
3 : to guide the actions of a person or group : to be in charge of a person, group, activity, etc.

[no obj]

• We need to elect someone who can lead.
• bosses who lead by example [=who show employees how they should act by acting that way themselves]

[+ obj]

• She leads her employees by setting a good example for them.
• She led a successful boycott of the store.
• lead an expedition
• A visiting professor will be leading the seminar.
• lead [=direct] an orchestra
• She led the children in a song. [=she sang a song and the children sang with her]
4 [+ obj] : to cause (a person, group, etc.) to do something or to follow some course of action
• Her interest in art led her into the field of art history.
- usually followed by to or to + verb
• His volunteer work in the hospital led him to a career in nursing. = His volunteer work in the hospital led [=inspired] him to become a nurse.
• Her experience with cancer led her to consider writing a book on the subject.
• The evidence leads me to believe [=makes me believe] that this disease is curable.
• We've been led to believe that the labels on food items disclose all ingredients, but it's becoming clear that this is not the case.
• I had been led to expect that someone would meet me at the airport, but no one came.
• He led me to understand [=he told me or caused me to think] that the deadline was January 7.
5 : to be first, best, or ahead in a race or competition

[no obj]

• the team that is currently leading in the pennant race
• At the end of the fourth inning, the Red Sox led by two runs.

[+ obj]

• lead a race
• They led their opponents by 20 points at the end of the third quarter.
• the team that is leading the league [=the team that is in first place]
• a batter who leads the league in home runs [=who has hit more home runs than any other batter]
• a runner who is leading the pack/field [=a runner who is ahead of the group of other runners]
- often used figuratively
• Their company leads the world [=is the most successful company in the world] in developing new technology to assist people with disabilities.
6 [+ obj] : to go through (life) in a certain way : to have (a specified kind of life)
• They chose to lead [=live] a quiet life.
• He leads a peaceful existence.
• It turned out that he had been leading a double life. [=deceiving people about his life, not telling the whole truth about his life]
• He has always led a charmed life. [=he has always been lucky]
• She needs to lead her own life. [=she needs to make her own decisions about her life]
7 : to begin play in a card game with (a certain card or kind of card)

[+ obj]

• lead trumps
• led a spade

[no obj]

• lead with a spade
8 [no obj] : to guide a dance partner through the steps of a dance
• I don't know this dance, so I'd prefer it if you lead.
9 [+ obj] law : to ask (a witness) a question in a way that suggests what the answer should be : to ask (a witness) a leading question
• The judge ruled that the lawyer was leading the witness.
lead off [phrasal verb] lead off or lead (something) off or lead off (something)
1 : to start something (such as an activity or performance) in a specified way
• She led off [=started, kicked off] the presentation with a brief overview of the project.
• She led off [=began] with a brief overview of the project.
2 baseball : to be the first batter in an inning
• He led off with a walk. [=he was the first batter in his team's half of the inning and he was walked]
• He led off the inning with a home run.
- see also leadoff
lead on [phrasal verb] lead (someone) on : to cause (someone) to wrongly continue believing or doing something
• She was devastated when she found out that he didn't really love her, and had only been leading her on. [=he had been leading her to believe that he loved her]
lead someone a merry chase US or Brit lead someone a (merry) dance old-fashioned : to cause a series of troubles or worries for (someone)
• He led me a merry chase before I finally got him to agree to a meeting.
lead someone (around) by the nose
- see ¹nose
lead someone down/up the garden path informal : to deceive someone : to cause someone to go, think, or proceed wrongly
• He believes the average consumer is being led down the garden path by the promises in advertisements.
lead the way : to be the first person to go somewhere
• You lead the way, and we'll follow.
- often used figuratively
• Their company led the way in developing this technology. [=was the first to have success developing the technology]
lead to [phrasal verb] lead to (something) : to result in (something)
• a course of study leading to a degree in agriculture
• Her investigations ultimately led to the discovery of the missing documents.
• His volunteer work in the hospital led to a career in nursing. = His volunteer work in the hospital led to him becoming a nurse.
- see also ¹lead 1a, 4 (above)
lead up to [phrasal verb] lead up to (something)
1 : to occur in the time that comes before (something)
• Many voters were still undecided in the days leading up to [=approaching] the election.
2 : to come before and help to cause (something)
• There was a series of errors leading up to the accident.
3 : to come before and help to introduce (something)
• a chapter leading up to the main topic of the book
• I had no idea what he was leading up to when he started talking about his father.
lead with [phrasal verb] lead with (something)
1 : to begin something (such as a story or speech) with (something specified)
• The newspaper story led [=opened, began] with a long report on the funeral.
2 : to begin a series of punches in boxing with (a punch thrown by a specified hand)
• The champion led with a left to the body, followed up quickly with a right to the jaw.
the blind leading the blind
- see ¹blind