Lead - English meaning

verb

Go somewhere with (someone) as a companion or escort.

Usage examples:

The two sisters were to accompany us to london

verb

To go with someone or to be provided or exist at the same time as something

Usage examples:

Accompanied by the course books are accompanied by four cds., depression is almost always accompani…

verb

To show someone how to get to somewhere

Usage examples:

Accompany someone to something would you like me to accompany you to your room?

noun

A condition or circumstance that puts one in a favourable or superior position.

Usage examples:

Companies with a computerized database are at an advantage

verb

Put in a favourable or superior position.

Usage examples:

Are we simply caught in a spiral here that will be destructive of our interests while, obviously, s…

noun

A condition that helps you or gives you a greater chance of success

Usage examples:

[ c ] his long arms give him a big advantage over other boxers., [ u ] test scores show no advantag…

adverb

Further forward in space; in the line of one's forward motion.

Usage examples:

The road ahead

adverb

In front

Usage examples:

The road ahead is very busy., straight ahead turn left at the traffic lights, and you'll see the ho…

adverb

Having more points, votes, etc. than someone else in a competition, election, etc.

Usage examples:

Barcelona was ahead after ten minutes.

noun

Occupation of a position of dominant power or influence.

Usage examples:

The ascendancy of good over evil

noun

A position of power, strength, or success

Usage examples:

They are in danger of losing their political ascendancy (= controlling power)., supporters of the p…

verb

Help (someone), typically by doing a share of the work.

Usage examples:

A senior academic would assist him in his work

noun

An act of giving help, typically by providing money.

Usage examples:

The budget must have an assist from tax policies

verb

To help

Usage examples:

Assist someone with something you will be expected to assist the editor with the selection of illus…

idiom

To be much better or much more advanced than another thing or person

Usage examples:

Be streets ahead of the latest sales figures show that we're streets ahead of the competition.

idiom

To be at the start of something

Usage examples:

Be in the first flush of youth he's no longer in the first flush of youth.

idiom

To be calm and completely in control of your behaviour and emotions

Usage examples:

Suntanned and relaxed, looking calmly about the room, he appeared completely in command.

idiom

To be in an important position where you have influence, but where you are likely to be criticized or attacked

Usage examples:

Many social workers are in the front line of racial tension.

noun

A series of linked metal rings used for fastening or securing something, or for pulling loads.

Usage examples:

He slid the bolts on the front door and put the safety chain across

verb

Fasten or secure with a chain.

Usage examples:

She chained her bicycle to the railings

noun

A length of metal rings that are connected together and used for fastening or supporting, and in machinery

Usage examples:

She looped the chain around her bike and locked it to the fence., mary wore a silver chain around h…

noun

A leader or ruler of a people or clan.

Usage examples:

The chief of the village

adjective

Most important.

Usage examples:

The chief reason for the spending cuts

adjective

Most important

Usage examples:

Their chief objection to the appointment was that she had no judicial experience., the chief econom…

verb

Give an authoritative or peremptory order.

Usage examples:

A gruff voice commanded us to enter

noun

An authoritative order.

Usage examples:

He obeyed her commands without question

verb

An authoritative direction or instruction to do something

noun

The manner in which a person behaves, especially in a particular place or situation.

Usage examples:

They were arrested for disorderly conduct

verb

Organize and carry out.

Usage examples:

In the second trial he conducted his own defence

verb

Direct the performance of (a piece of music or an orchestra, choir, etc.).

Usage examples:

The concert is to be conducted by sir simon rattle

noun

Thin, flexible string or rope made from several twisted strands.

Usage examples:

Hang the picture from a rail on a length of cord

verb

Attach a cord to.

Usage examples:

You will need to cord the blind

noun

(a length of) rope or string made of twisted threads

Usage examples:

Where's the cord that ties back the curtains?

adjective

Extending or moving from one place to another without changing direction or stopping.

Usage examples:

There was no direct flight that day

adverb

With no one or nothing in between.

Usage examples:

They seem reluctant to deal with me direct

verb

Control the operations of; manage or govern.

Usage examples:

An economic elite directed the nation's affairs

noun

Power and influence over others.

Usage examples:

The worldwide dominance of hollywood

noun

The quality of being more important, strong, or successful than anything else of the same type

Usage examples:

The party's dominance in scotland was being challenged for the first time., the dominance of the ca…

noun

The action of taking control of other people or animals in a forceful way, or the quality of liking to do this

Usage examples:

The new chairman appears to be trying to assert his dominance with a set of personnel changes., the…

noun

The outside limit of an object, area, or surface.

Usage examples:

A willow tree at the water's edge

verb

Provide with a border or edge.

Usage examples:

The pool is edged with paving

verb

A line determining the limits of an area

noun

A person, vehicle, or group accompanying another for protection or as a mark of rank.

Usage examples:

A police escort

verb

Accompany (someone or something) somewhere as an escort.

Usage examples:

He escorted her back to her hotel

verb

To go with someone or something as a companion or guard

Usage examples:

He escorted her to her car in the parking lot because it was after dark., anytime a clerk transfers…

noun

Practical contact with and observation of facts or events.

Usage examples:

He had learned his lesson by painful experience

verb

Encounter or undergo (an event or occurrence).

Usage examples:

The company is experiencing difficulties

noun

(the process of getting) knowledge or skill that is obtained from doing, seeing, or feeling things, or something that happens which has an effect on you

Usage examples:

[ u ] do you have any experience working with children?, [ u ] i know from experience that it can g…

Preceding all others in time or space or degree

ordinal number

Coming before all others in time or order; earliest; 1st.

Usage examples:

His first wife

ordinal number

Foremost in position, rank, or importance.

Usage examples:

The doctor's first duty is to respect this right

noun

The leading or most important position or place.

Usage examples:

The issue has moved to the forefront of the political agenda

noun

The most important or leading position

Usage examples:

She was in the forefront on many social issues of her day.

noun

The most noticeable or important position in a particular market, activity, or group

Usage examples:

At/in the forefront of (doing) sth the company is at the forefront of developing new technology to …

adjective

Most prominent in rank, importance, or position.

Usage examples:

One of the foremost art collectors of his day

adverb

Before anything else in rank, importance, or position; in the first place.

Usage examples:

It was, foremost, the first unequivocal demonstration of the process

adjective

Best known or most important

Usage examples:

He was one of the foremost actors of his day.

noun

The side or part of an object that presents itself to view or that is normally seen or used first; the most forward part of something.

Usage examples:

A page at the front of the book had been torn out

adjective

Of or at the front.

Usage examples:

The front cover of the magazine

verb

(of a building or piece of land) have the front facing or directed towards.

Usage examples:

The flats which fronted crow road

phrasal verb

To expect someone or something to fail

Usage examples:

Most people gave up on him when he quit school, but he went back and earned his degree two years la…

verb

Conduct the policy, actions, and affairs of (a state, organization, or people) with authority.

Usage examples:

He was incapable of governing the country

verb

To control and be responsible for the public business of a country, state, city, or other organized group

Usage examples:

[ t ] the newly elected president will govern the country for four years., prices of manufactured g…

verb

To control and manage a country, city, group of people, etc.

Usage examples:

The party was accused of being unfit to govern., today, he governs a state where hispanics make up …

noun

A person who shows the way to others, especially one employed to show tourists around places of interest.

Usage examples:

A tour guide

verb

Show or indicate the way to (someone).

Usage examples:

He guided her to the front row and sat beside her

verb

Someone employed to conduct others

verb

Possess, own, or hold.

Usage examples:

He had a new car and a boat

noun

People with plenty of money and possessions.

Usage examples:

An increasing gap between the haves and have-nots

Possess, either in a concrete or an abstract sense

noun

The upper part of the human body, or the front or upper part of the body of an animal, typically separated from the rest of the body by a neck, and containing the brain, mouth, and sense organs.

Usage examples:

Whatever comes into my head

adjective

Chief; principal.

Usage examples:

The head waiter

verb

Be in the leading position on.

Usage examples:

The st george's day procession was headed by the mayor

noun

An instance of starting ahead of or before others, as in a race, chase, etc., sometimes by a specified amount; the fact of having such an advantage.

noun

In extended use: an early or initial advantage, especially over others having the same aim.

noun

Chiefly with capital initials. a federal educational and welfare programme in the united states, intended to help children in low-income households prepare for schooling.

verb

Make it easier or possible for (someone) to do something by offering one's services or resources.

Usage examples:

They helped her with domestic chores

noun

The action of helping someone to do something.

Usage examples:

I asked for help from my neighbours

exclamation

Used as an appeal for urgent assistance.

Usage examples:

Help! i'm drowning!

noun

A person who is admired for their courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities.

Usage examples:

A war hero

proper noun

A priestess of aphrodite at sestos on the european shore of the hellespont, whose lover leander, a youth of abydos on the opposite shore, swam the strait nightly to visit her. one stormy night he was drowned and hero in grief threw herself into the sea.

proper noun

(1st century), greek mathematician and inventor; known as hero of alexandria. his surviving works are important as a source for ancient practical mathematics and mechanics. he described a number of hydraulic, pneumatic, and other mechanical devices, including elementary applications of the power of steam.

noun

A woman admired for her courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities.

Usage examples:

She was a true feminist heroine

noun

A woman who is admired for having done something very brave or having achieved something great

Usage examples:

She is remembered as a heroine of the french resistance., the nursery nurse who protected the child…

noun

The main female character in a book or film, who is usually good

Usage examples:

The heroine of her latest novel, fairy-tale heroines such as snow white, madame butterfly, puccini'…

idiom

To be the best

Usage examples:

The company leads the way in developing new software., we all walked down toward the beach with the…

adjective

Most important.

Usage examples:

A number of leading politicians

noun

Guidance or leadership, especially in a spiritual context.

Usage examples:

Things can be learned in many ways (spiritual leading is one way you pointed).

noun

The amount of blank space between lines of print.

Usage examples:

Most scrapbookers don't know what kerning or leading are and how to adjust them accordingly.

noun

A dog's lead.

Usage examples:

In this experiment with dogs, each dog was led on a leash from a starting point along a straight pa…

verb

Put a leash on (a dog).

Usage examples:

He called azor to heel so that he could leash him

noun

A strap, chain, etc., fastened to a dog or other animal, esp. at its collar, in order to lead or control it

Usage examples:

Dogs must be kept on a leash in this park.

noun

A long, narrow mark or band.

Usage examples:

A row of closely spaced dots will look like a continuous line

verb

Stand or be positioned at intervals along.

Usage examples:

A processional route lined by people waving flags

verb

Cover the inside surface of (a container or garment) with a layer of different material.

Usage examples:

A basket lined with polythene

verb

Remain alive.

Usage examples:

The doctors said she had only six months to live

adjective

Not dead or inanimate; living.

Usage examples:

Live animals

adverb

As or at an actual event or performance.

Usage examples:

The match will be televised live

adjective

Chief in size or importance.

Usage examples:

A main road

noun

A principal pipe carrying water or gas to buildings, or taking sewage from them.

Usage examples:

A faulty gas main

noun

(in the game of hazard) a number (5, 6, 7, 8, or 9) called by a player before dice are thrown.

noun

An officer of the highest rank in the armed forces of some countries.

Usage examples:

Marshal tito

verb

Assemble and arrange (a group of people, especially troops) in order.

Usage examples:

The general marshalled his troops

verb

To gather or organize people or things, esp. in order to achieve a particular aim

Usage examples:

The president is trying to marshal support for his plan., the mayor was the honorary grand marshal …

adjective

More important than anything else; supreme.

Usage examples:

The interests of the child are of paramount importance

proper noun

A city in south-western california, south-east of los angeles; population 55,236 (est. 2008).

adjective

More important than anything else

Usage examples:

Everybody agrees that education is the paramount issue.

verb

Move or cause to move in a specified direction.

Usage examples:

He passed through towns and villages

noun

An act or instance of moving past or through something.

Usage examples:

Repeated passes with the swipe card

exclamation

Said when one does not know the answer to a question, for example in a quiz.

Usage examples:

To the enigmatic question we answered ‘pass’

noun

A person who operates the flying controls of an aircraft.

Usage examples:

A strike by local airline pilots

adjective

Done as an experiment or test before being introduced more widely.

Usage examples:

A pilot scheme for training workers

verb

Another term for cowcatcher.

noun

The quality of being more important or better than others

Usage examples:

His pre-eminence in his subject is internationally recognized., the company hopes to reestablish it…

noun

The condition of being considered more important than someone or something else; priority in importance, order, or rank.

Usage examples:

His desire for power soon took precedence over any other consideration

noun

The condition of being dealt with before other things or of being considered more important than other things

Usage examples:

What takes precedence here, environmental cost or consumer convenience?

noun

The fact that something is more important than other things and should be dealt with first

Usage examples:

The cases led to a debate about whether human rights should sometimes take precedence over national…

adjective

First in importance, order, or position; leading.

Usage examples:

Germany's premier rock band

noun

A prime minister or other head of government.

Usage examples:

The premier told the president that failure to co-operate with the hague would have disastrous cons…

adjective

Best or most important

Usage examples:

He was widely regarded as one of the world’s premier authorities on heart disease., the premier of …

noun

The fact of being pre-eminent or most important.

Usage examples:

London's primacy as a financial centre

adjective

Of chief importance; principal.

Usage examples:

The government's primary aim is to see significant reductions in unemployment

noun

(in the us) a preliminary election to appoint delegates to a party conference or to select the candidates for a principal, especially presidential, election.

Usage examples:

These two republicans should win their primaries easily

verb

Former term for palaeozoic.

adjective

Of first importance; main.

Usage examples:

A nurse's prime concern is the well-being of the patient

noun

The state or time of greatest vigour or success in a person's life.

Usage examples:

You're in the prime of life

verb

Make (something) ready for use or action.

Usage examples:

He grabbed a gun from a nearby wall and primed it

adjective

First in order of importance; main.

Usage examples:

The country's principal cities

noun

The most important or senior person in an organization or group.

Usage examples:

A design consultancy whose principal is based in san francisco

adjective

First in order of importance

Usage examples:

Iraq’s principal export is oil.

noun

The leading character or one of the major characters in a play, film, novel, etc.

Usage examples:

The novel's main protagonist is an american intelligence officer

verb

Control or maintain the rate or speed of (a machine or process) so that it operates properly.

Usage examples:

A hormone which regulates metabolism

verb

To control an activity or process by rules or a system

Usage examples:

A computer system regulates production., [ + question word ] their parents regulate how much tv the…

verb

To check that the activities of a business or organization are legal and follow official rules or laws

Usage examples:

Congress has the power to regulate interstate commerce., the agency regulates the financial service…

noun

A long, narrow strap attached at one end to a horse's bit, typically used in pairs to guide or check a horse in riding or driving.

Usage examples:

Spotting them, she quickly grabbed the reins and led the horses back at a trot.

verb

Check or guide (a horse) by pulling on its reins.

Usage examples:

He reined in his horse and waited

noun

A long thin piece of material, esp. leather, used to control a horse

noun

A length of thick strong cord made by twisting together strands of hemp, sisal, nylon, or similar material.

Usage examples:

There was no way down, even with a rope

verb

Catch, fasten, or secure with rope.

Usage examples:

The calves must be roped and led out of the stockade

noun

One of a set of explicit or understood regulations or principles governing conduct or procedure within a particular area of activity.

Usage examples:

The rules of cricket

verb

Short for australian rules.

noun

An accepted principle or instruction that states the way things are or should be done, and tells you what you are allowed or are not allowed to do

Usage examples:

The company's chief executive failed to enforce federal workplace rules., if you broke the rule, yo…

verb

Perceive with the eyes; discern visually.

Usage examples:

In the distance she could see the blue sea

noun

The place in which a cathedral church stands, identified as the seat of authority of a bishop or archbishop.

Usage examples:

He was elected to fill the vacant see

verb

Past of see1.

noun

A person who tends and rears sheep.

Usage examples:

In numerous prints donkeys and sheep enslave millers and shepherds; farmers pull ploughs or carry s…

verb

Tend (sheep) as a shepherd.

Usage examples:

Although the sheep are shepherded, they're generally only counted when we bring them in

verb

Allow or cause (something) to be visible.

Usage examples:

A white blouse will show the blood

noun

A spectacle or display, typically an impressive one.

Usage examples:

Spectacular shows of bluebells

verb

Make visible or noticeable

idiom

To do something original that others are likely to copy

Usage examples:

Sweden has shown the way forward on energy efficiency.

verb

Give (money) to pay for goods, services, or so as to benefit someone or something.

Usage examples:

The firm has spent £100,000 on hardware

noun

An amount of money paid out.

Usage examples:

The average spend at the cafe is £10 a head

noun

A fixed luminous point in the night sky which is a large, remote incandescent body like the sun.

Usage examples:

This new heat supply causes the outer layers of the star to expand and cool, and the star becomes a…

verb

(of a film, play, or other show) have (someone) as a principal performer.

Usage examples:

A film starring liza minnelli

verb

Guide or control the movement of (a vehicle, vessel, or aircraft), for example by turning a wheel or operating a rudder.

Usage examples:

He steered the boat slowly towards the busy quay

noun

The type of steering of a vehicle.

Usage examples:

Some cars boast four-wheel steer

noun

Another term for bullock.

noun

The state of being superior.

Usage examples:

An attempt to establish superiority over others

verb

Observe and direct the execution of (a task or activity).

Usage examples:

The sergeant left to supervise the loading of the lorries

verb

Watch and direct

noun

The state or condition of being superior to all others in authority, power, or status.

Usage examples:

The supremacy of the king

noun

The highest authority or greatest power

Usage examples:

He approved the supremacy of a strong federal government over the demands of states.

verb

Lay hold of (something) with one's hands; reach for and hold.

Usage examples:

Mrs morgan took another biscuit

noun

A scene or sequence of sound or vision photographed or recorded continuously at one time.

Usage examples:

He completed a particularly difficult scene in two takes

verb

Get into one's hands

verb

Tie (an animal) with a rope or chain so as to restrict its movement.

Usage examples:

The horse had been tethered to a post

noun

A rope or chain with which an animal is tied to restrict its movement.

Usage examples:

Regulations banning neck and girth tethers for sows

noun

A rope, chain, or other device used to attach a person or animal to a fixed object

Usage examples:

Asthma kept him tethered to an oxygen tank.

noun

The highest or uppermost point, part, or surface of something.

Usage examples:

Doreen stood at the top of the stairs

adjective

Highest in position, rank, or degree.

Usage examples:

The top button of his shirt

verb

Exceed (an amount, level, or number); be more than.

Usage examples:

Losses are expected to top £100 m this year

verb

Experience or be subjected to (something, typically something unpleasant or arduous).

Usage examples:

He underwent a life-saving brain operation

verb

To experience something that is unpleasant or has a strong effect

Usage examples:

He recently underwent heart bypass surgery.

noun

A person who shows people to their seats, especially in a cinema or theatre or at a wedding.

Usage examples:

An usher at the cinema said the attendance had been better when the film was first released some we…

verb

Show or guide (someone) somewhere.

Usage examples:

A waiter ushered me to a table

verb

Someone employed to conduct others

noun

A medium-sized motor vehicle, typically without side windows in the rear part, for transporting goods.

Usage examples:

Delivery vans can't pull in and are holding up the traffic behind them

noun

The foremost part of a group of people moving or preparing to move forwards, especially the foremost division of an advancing military force.

Usage examples:

In the van were the foremost chiefs and some of the warriors astride horses

noun

A winnowing fan.

Usage examples:

Nothing is more commonly found in the monuments of the heathen feasts than a small chest, a van, an…

noun

A group of people leading the way in new developments or ideas.

Usage examples:

The experimental spirit of the modernist vanguard

noun

The front part of a group of people who are moving forward, esp. an army

Usage examples:

These craftspeople are in the vanguard in the art of modern furniture design.