'lead' in a sentence

: an advantage held by a competitor in a race

: evidence pointing to a possible solution

: a position of being the initiator of something and an example that others will follow (especially in the phrase `take the lead')

: the angle between the direction a gun is aimed and the position of a moving target (correcting for the flight time of the missile)

: the introductory section of a story

: (sports) the score by which a team or individual is winning

: an actor who plays a principal role

: (baseball) the position taken by a base runner preparing to advance to the next base

: an indication of potential opportunity

: a news story of major importance

: the timing of ignition relative to the position of the piston in an internal-combustion engine

: restraint consisting of a rope (or light chain) used to restrain an animal

: thin strip of metal used to separate lines of type in printing

: a jumper that consists of a short piece of wire

: the playing of a card to start a trick in bridge

: a soft heavy toxic malleable metallic element; bluish white when freshly cut but tarnishes readily to dull grey

: mixture of graphite with clay in different degrees of hardness; the marking substance in a pencil

: take somebody somewhere

: produce as a result or residue

: tend to or result in

: travel in front of; go in advance of others

: cause to undertake a certain action

: stretch out over a distance, space, time, or scope; run or extend between two points or beyond a certain point

: be in charge of

: be ahead of others; be the first

: be conducive to

: lead, as in the performance of a composition

: lead, extend, or afford access

: move ahead (of others) in time or space

: cause something to pass or lead somewhere

: preside over