lead

I

v

1. guide, conduct, marshal, usher, escort, convoy; take the lead, lead the way. See lead(def.8).

2. precede, antecede, come or go before, come first, go ahead of, go in advance; rate, rank, outrank, have precedence, have priority.

3. influence, affect, weigh with; cause, induce, prompt, move, incline, dispose, predispose; persuade, convince, sway, bring round, prevail upon, win over, talk into, wear down, soften up, Inf. con, Inf. sell [s.o.] on; bend, bend to one's will, Inf. lead by the nose, Sl. twist [s.o.'s] arm; counsel, advise, admonish, point out; call forth, bring on, elicit, evoke, provoke, instigate.

4. command, order, prescribe, lay down the law; rule, reign, dominate, predominate, have the ascendancy, have the upper or whip hand, crack the whip, call the shots, Inf. rule the roost, Inf. wear the pants; head, Inf. head up, preside over, hold the reins, be in the driver's seat, take the helm, pilot, captain, Inf. skipper, quarterback, call the signals; supervise, superintend, oversee, Inf. boss; direct, govern, manage, regulate, handle, carry on, drive, Inf. run.

5. excel, exceed, surpass, transcend, outstrip, outrun, outdistance, distance, leave behind, steal a march on; eclipse, outshine, overshadow, throw into the shade; outdo, outplay, outperform, outrival, outpoint, outstep, overleap, overcome, best, better, Inf. go one better; cap, top, overtop, tower above, put to shame, Inf. show up, Inf. run rings or circles around.

6. lead off begin, commence, start, go ahead, Inf. jump off, Inf. kick off; take steps, get going, get a move on, get on the stick, start off, start out, move out, get the show on the road; start in, plunge in, Inf. pitch in, Inf. steam in, Inf. dive in, Inf. get one's feet wet, Inf. get down to it, Inf. get to it.

7. lead on mislead, delude, deceive, trick, hoax, dupe, hoodwink, Inf. bamboozle, Inf. put one over on [s.o.]; beckon, invite, draw on, bait, bait the hook; tempt, lure, allure, seduce, beguile, inveigle, entice, charm, tantalize; entrap, trap, ensnare, snare, net, bag; court, pay court to, woo; wheedle, cajole, blandish, blarney, Inf. soft-soap.

8. lead the waya. guide, conduct. See lead(def.1).b. initiate, instigate, actuate, set off, set in motion, trigger, start the ball rolling, ring up the curtain on; open, pioneer, take the first step, take the initiative, take the lead, take the plunge, make a start, break the ice, lead off, blaze the trail; institute, inaugurate, found, establish, set up, organize, originate, break ground, lay the first stone, lay the foundation; introduce, launch, broach, usher in.

9. lead up toa. prepare the way, pave the way, clear the way, open the way; do the groundwork or spadework, smooth the path or road.b. approach, make advances, overture, make an overture or overtures; intimate, insinuate, imply, hint at.

n

10. head, lead or front or advance position, first place, Inf. top spot; van, vanguard, cutting edge, spearhead; primacy, preeminence, priority, primacy, supremacy.

11. guide, conductor, cicerone, (in the Orient) dragoman; pointer, index, arrow, direction, signpost, guidepost, milepost or milestone; clue, cue, key, Inf. hot lead, Inf. tip-off; trace, vestige, spoor; hint, intimation, suggestion.

12. example, model, pattern, standard, criterion, precedent.

13. leash, tether. See leash(def.1).

14.Theater. a. lead role, starring role, title role, principal part, fat part.b. star, headliner, featured player or attraction, feature or headline attraction, drawing card; hero, heroine, protagonist, principal, principal character; male lead, male star, leading man, lead actor, jeune premier; female lead, female star, leading lady or woman, lead actress, premiere, jeune premiere; diva, prima donna, prima ballerina, premiere danseuse.

adj

15. main, principal, cardinal, prime, primary, uppermost, most important; supreme, head, first, foremost, headmost, chief, premier, paramount, Inf. boss; ruling, reigning, commanding, controlling, directing, governing, leading.

II

n

1. graphite, black lead, plumbago, Chem. plumbum; white lead ore, Mineral. cerussite.

2. weight, sinker, bob, plumb, plummet, plumb bob, plumb line, sounding line, sounding rod, sounding head, sounding, bottle, fathomer.

3. shot, ammunition, Inf. ammo.