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1. WordNet® 3.0 (2006)
leading
    adj 1: indicating the most important performer or role; "the
           leading man"; "prima ballerina"; "prima donna"; "a star
           figure skater"; "the starring role"; "a stellar role"; "a
           stellar performance" [syn: leading(p), prima(p),
           star(p), starring(p), stellar(a)]
    2: greatest in importance or degree or significance or
       achievement; "our greatest statesmen"; "the country's leading
       poet"; "a preeminent archeologist" [syn: leading(a),
       preeminent]
    3: going or proceeding or going in advance; showing the way; "we
       rode in the leading car"; "the leading edge of technology"
       [ant: following]
    4: having the leading position or higher score in a contest; "he
       is ahead by a pawn"; "the leading team in the pennant race"
       [syn: ahead(p), in the lead, leading]
    n 1: thin strip of metal used to separate lines of type in
         printing [syn: lead, leading]
    2: the activity of leading; "his leadership inspired the team"
       [syn: leadership, leading]

2. The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Lead \Lead\ (l[=e]d), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Led (l[e^]d); p. pr.
   & vb. n. Leading.] [OE. leden, AS. l[=ae]dan (akin to OS.
   l[=e]dian, D. leiden, G. leiten, Icel. le[imac][eth]a, Sw.
   leda, Dan. lede), properly a causative fr. AS. li[eth]an to
   go; akin to OHG. l[imac]dan, Icel. l[imac][eth]a, Goth.
   lei[thorn]an (in comp.). Cf. Lode, Loath.]
   1. To guide or conduct with the hand, or by means of some
      physical contact or connection; as, a father leads a
      child; a jockey leads a horse with a halter; a dog leads a
      blind man.
      [1913 Webster]

            If a blind man lead a blind man, both fall down in
            the ditch.                            --Wyclif
                                                  (Matt. xv.
                                                  14.)
      [1913 Webster]

            They thrust him out of the city, and led him unto
            the brow of the hill.                 --Luke iv. 29.
      [1913 Webster]

            In thy right hand lead with thee
            The mountain nymph, sweet Liberty.    --Milton.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. To guide or conduct in a certain course, or to a certain
      place or end, by making the way known; to show the way,
      esp. by going with or going in advance of. Hence,
      figuratively: To direct; to counsel; to instruct; as, to
      lead a traveler; to lead a pupil.
      [1913 Webster]

            The Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a
            cloud, to lead them the way.          --Ex. xiii.
                                                  21.
      [1913 Webster]

            He leadeth me beside the still waters. --Ps. xxiii.
                                                  2.
      [1913 Webster]

            This thought might lead me through the world's vain
            mask.
            Content, though blind, had I no better guide.
                                                  --Milton.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. To conduct or direct with authority; to have direction or
      charge of; as, to lead an army, an exploring party, or a
      search; to lead a political party.
      [1913 Webster]

            Christ took not upon him flesh and blood that he
            might conquer and rule nations, lead armies, or
            possess places.                       --South.
      [1913 Webster]

   4. To go or to be in advance of; to precede; hence, to be
      foremost or chief among; as, the big sloop led the fleet
      of yachts; the Guards led the attack; Demosthenes leads
      the orators of all ages.
      [1913 Webster]

            As Hesperus, that leads the sun his way. --Fairfax.
      [1913 Webster]

            And lo ! Ben Adhem's name led all the rest. --Leigh
                                                  Hunt.
      [1913 Webster]

   5. To draw or direct by influence, whether good or bad; to
      prevail on; to induce; to entice; to allure; as, to lead
      one to espouse a righteous cause.
      [1913 Webster]

            He was driven by the necessities of the times, more
            than led by his own disposition, to any rigor of
            actions.                              --Eikon
                                                  Basilike.
      [1913 Webster]

            Silly women, laden with sins, led away by divers
            lusts.                                --2 Tim. iii.
                                                  6 (Rev. Ver.).
      [1913 Webster]

   6. To guide or conduct one's self in, through, or along (a
      certain course); hence, to proceed in the way of; to
      follow the path or course of; to pass; to spend. Also, to
      cause (one) to proceed or follow in (a certain course).
      [1913 Webster]

            That we may lead a quiet and peaceable life. --1
                                                  Tim. ii. 2.
      [1913 Webster]

            Nor thou with shadowed hint confuse
            A life that leads melodious days.     --Tennyson.
      [1913 Webster]

            You remember . . . the life he used to lead his wife
            and daughter.                         --Dickens.
      [1913 Webster]

   7. (Cards & Dominoes) To begin a game, round, or trick, with;
      as, to lead trumps; the double five was led.
      [1913 Webster]

   To lead astray, to guide in a wrong way, or into error; to
      seduce from truth or rectitude.

   To lead captive, to carry or bring into captivity.

   To lead the way, to show the way by going in front; to act
      as guide. --Goldsmith.
      [1913 Webster]

3. The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Lead \Lead\ (l[e^]d), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Leaded; p. pr. & vb.
   n. Leading.]
   1. To cover, fill, or affect with lead; as, continuous firing
      leads the grooves of a rifle.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. (Print.) To place leads between the lines of; as, to lead
      a page; leaded matter.
      [1913 Webster]

4. The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Leading \Lead"ing\, n.
   1. The act of guiding, directing, governing, or enticing;
      guidance. --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. Suggestion; hint; example. [Archaic] --Bacon.
      [1913 Webster]

5. The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Leading \Lead"ing\, a.
   Guiding; directing; controlling; foremost; as, a leading
   motive; a leading man; a leading example. -- Lead"ing*ly,
   adv.
   [1913 Webster]

   Leading case (Law), a reported decision which has come to
      be regarded as settling the law of the question involved.
      --Abbott.

   Leading motive [a translation of G. leitmotif] (Mus.), a
      guiding theme; in the musical drama of Wagner, a marked
      melodic phrase or short passage which always accompanies
      the reappearance of a certain person, situation, abstract
      idea, or allusion in the course of the play; a sort of
      musical label. Also called leitmotif or leitmotiv.

   Leading note (Mus.), the seventh note or tone in the
      ascending major scale; the sensible note.

   Leading question, a question so framed as to guide the
      person questioned in making his reply.

   Leading strings, strings by which children are supported
      when beginning to walk.

   To be in leading strings, to be in a state of infancy or
      dependence, or under the guidance of others.

   Leading wheel, a wheel situated before the driving wheels
      of a locomotive engine.
      [1913 Webster]

6. The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (30 December 2018)
leading

    /ledding/ The spacing between lines of text.  This is
   defined when a font is designed but can often be altered in
   order to change the appearance of the text or for special
   effects.  It is measured in points and is normally 120% of
   the height of the text.

   See also kerning, tracking.

   (1996-06-07)


7. Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856)
LEADING. That which is to be followed; as, a leading case; leading question 
leading counsel. 



Thesaurus Results for leading:

1. Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0
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