Lead

Quick meaning: Lead is a noun meaning (countable, nautical) A plummet or mass of lead attached to a line, used in sounding depth at sea or to estimate velocity in knots.

Meaning

(countable, nautical) A plummet or mass of lead attached to a line, used in sounding depth at sea or to estimate velocity in knots.

More Meanings

1. A thin strip of type metal, used to separate lines of type in printing.
2. (uncountable, typography) Vertical space in advance of a row or between rows of text. Also known as leading.
3. Sheets or plates of lead used as a covering for roofs.
4. (countable) A roof covered with lead sheets or terne plates.
5. (countable) A thin cylinder of graphite used in pencils.
6. (uncountable) A heavy, pliable, inelastic metal element, having a bright, bluish color, but easily tarnished; both malleable and ductile, though with little tenacity. It is easily fusible, forms alloys with other metals, and is an ingredient of solder and type metal. Atomic number 82, symbol Pb (from Latin plumbum).
7. (slang) Bullets; ammunition.

Example Sentences

to lead a page

They pumped him full of lead.

You must remember to wear your leads.

continuous firing leads the grooves of a rifle.

Word Forms

• leads
• leading
• leaded
• leadest
• leadeth

Synonyms for lead

Depending on context, synonyms include leaden, plumbic, plumbous, leaded, leady, saturnine.

Antonyms for lead

Common opposites include follow.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include wind, star, pb, tip, head, steer.

Related Dictionary Tools