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lead

lead

664 4.6
The main person who is in charge of a group or activity
  • noun
  • /liːd/
: protagonista
  • Thus, NATO took the lead in bringing Central and Eastern Europe into the fold.
  • take the lead
  • a lead role
  • a team lead

Francis Walker, president of MIT, was the lead of the Dream Team.

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Examples

  • Carlotta will be playing the lead!

  • If you want a strong female lead she has to have an objective.

  • As you know, our lead actress also had to drop out at the last second.

  • Seven teachers participated as lead teachers in a science professional development program for four years.

    Academic text (2012)
  • We have Cameron, who's the lead female actress.

  • And that's the lead character, Jen Ursa.

  • In disaster-affected situations, Oxfam takes a lead in delivering WASH-related services.

    Academic text (2015)
  • Dr. Rollin is a medical doctor and team lead in the Viral Special Pathogens Branch, CDC.

    Academic text (2013)
  • She has always dreamed of playing the lead role in a Broadway musical.

  • The actor received critical acclaim for his portrayal of the lead in the drama series.

Synonyms

leader
vslead
∞ 1.0

A person who guides and directs a group, organization, or country

is about primary performance roles as well as those who initiate actions
star
vslead
∞ 1.1

A very famous and admired performer like an actor or musician

is about main roles or people in charge rather than general fame
principal
vslead
575 3.6

A main person in an activity who has control or responsibility

is focused on prominent performance roles and people who run tasks
80 2.4

The most important person in a story like a book or movie

is used for both story roles and people who head activities
leading man
vslead
33 3.9

A male actor who plays the main role in a play, film, or TV show

is the broader term covering main actors and those in charge
leading lady
vslead
22 3.1

An actress who plays the main female role in a play or film

is the more general label for primary performers or organisers

Antonyms

51 4.5

Perform with a main artist to help their show

Idioms

45 3.5

Holding the first position in a game or race

4 7.7

Make someone do what you want without them noticing

3 8.4

To delay saying the most important part of a story so readers miss it

to eat lead
  • Offensive
2 9.9

To be shot at with bullets

You can reach the same result in many different ways

1 3.0

Ahead of other people in a race or competition

To marry someone in a formal wedding ceremony

Act in a way that makes you open to attack or criticism

In a first position that gives an advantage in a competition

Compounds

lead story
  • Literature
32 3.0

The most important news story in a newspaper, on TV, or online

lead-in
  • Literature
14 4.9

A short introduction before the main part of a talk or story

lead poisoning
  • Specialized
11 3.9

A condition that happens when too much lead gets into the body and makes you sick

lead time
  • Specialized
9 4.5

The time between starting and finishing a process often used in business

1 3.5

Does not contain the metal lead

1 1.3

A pencil that uses graphite for writing or drawing

lead-acid battery
  • Specialized
1 3.9

A rechargeable device with lead plates and weak sulphuric acid used in cars and for backup power

lead glass
  • Specialized
1 6.3

Glass made with small amounts of the metal lead that is very clear and sparkly

lead sheet
  • Specialized
1 6.0

A piece of music that shows the tune, words, and chords

1 2.4

A thin dark core inside a pencil that makes marks on paper

white lead
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A poisonous white pigment made from a heavy metal and used in older paints

red lead
  • Specialized
1 9.1

A bright red powder used to make paint and to protect metal from rust

black lead
  • Archaic
1 8.6

A soft black material in pencil cores that is also used as a nuclear reactor moderator called graphite

1 5.5

A dull grey-blue color like old metal

lead bank
  • Jargon
1 6.9

A bank that coordinates a group of other banks to give a loan together

lead sandwich
  • Informal
1 8.4

A very heavy, very filling sandwich people joke about to mean a hard situation

tetraethyl lead
  • Archaic
1 9.4

A clear oily poison once added to petrol or gasoline to stop engine knocking

hard lead
  • Specialized
1 8.1

Heavy metal that people make harder by adding antimony or other metals for industrial use

lead ore
  • Specialized
1 6.3

A rock that contains a heavy grey metal people take out to use

lead chromate
  • Specialized
1 9.3

A bright yellow poisonous chemical used to make paint

lead line
  • Archaic
1 8.1

A rope with a heavy lead weight that sailors lower to measure water depth from a boat

lead arsenate
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A poisonous white chemical once used to kill insects on crops

lead carbonate
  • Archaic
1 8.9

A white poisonous powder that contains lead and was used to make paint

lead-in
  • Specialized
1 7.0

A wire that connects an antenna to a TV or radio

pig lead
  • Specialized
1 9.3

Blocks of lead made for storage or moving

1 8.1

A short wire with metal clips at both ends used to make temporary electric connections

lead acetate
  • Specialized
1 8.4

A poisonous white chemical used to dye cloth and make coatings for metal and wood

lead colic
  • Archaic
1 9.9

Severe belly pain and constipation caused by long term lead poisoning

1 4.7

Short wire with clips at each end that makes a temporary electrical connection between two points

sugar of lead
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A poisonous white chemical used long ago to dye fabrics and make glazes

sounding lead
  • Archaic
1 9.3

A heavy metal weight tied to a rope used to measure how deep water is

antimonial lead
  • Specialized
8.1

A metal made from lead and a little of another metal used to make parts stronger and resist corrosion

9.9

A shrub that grows on sandy river banks and is thought to show nearby lead

A rechargeable battery with lead plates and acid used in cars and backup power

A person who starts and encourages dancing at parties

lead tetraethyl
  • Archaic
9.9

A clear oily poisonous liquid once added to gasoline to reduce engine knocking

7.9

A low bushy tropical tree with feathery leaves and long pods used for animal food and to help the soil

green lead ore
  • Specialized
9.9

A green rock that contains lead and gives small amounts of lead when processed

red-lead putty
  • Archaic
9.3

A thick paste used to seal metal pipe joints

white lead ore
  • Specialized
9.9

A mineral that contains lead and is used to make white paint

How Prominent

superstar
217 2.8
lead
664 4.6
bit part
6 4.1
extra
58 3.5

Surface Forms

lead singular
leads plural

Etymology

Lead The person in charge or the main role is called the lead from the verb lead, and you can see the same idea in the word leader — this is the one who guides or sets the direction.