1lead 
/ˈli:d/ verb
leads; led /ˈli:d/ verb /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.
b [+ obj] : to go or be at the front part of (something)
▪ The veterans will lead a parade down Main Street. ▪ lead a march
▪ 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]
▪ 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.
▪ 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]
▪ I don't know this dance, so I'd prefer it if you lead.
▪ 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
▪ 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.
▪ 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]
▪ 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.
▪ 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.
▪ 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]
▪ 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)
▪ 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.
▪ Many voters were still undecided in the days leading up to [=approaching] the election.
▪ There was a series of errors leading up to the accident.
▪ 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 newspaper story led [=opened, began] with a long report on the funeral.
▪ 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
