[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/lead.html) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/) / [The school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/) / lead [← L](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/L/) # lead «lead» in Mova's school dictionary: **to go in front and show the way, or to be in charge of a…** — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples, with 5 sentences of Mova's corpora that use it. ### part of speech verb (lead, leads, led, leading) — said «leed»; noun (a lead, leads) — said «leed»; noun (lead — the metal) — said «led» ### meaning for a pupil 1) To lead (leed) is to go in front and show the way, or to be in charge of a group. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lead/#m1) 2) To lead is to be winning: «Our team leads by two goals». [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lead/#m2) 3) To lead to something is to cause it or go to it: «This path leads to the beach». [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lead/#m3) 4) A lead (leed) is a strap for a dog (US: leash), or a wire for electricity. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lead/#m4) 5) The lead (leed) is first place, or the main part in a play. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lead/#m5) 6) Lead (led) is a soft, heavy, grey metal, poisonous if swallowed. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lead/#m6) 7) Pencil «lead» (led) is really graphite, not the metal. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lead/#m7) ### sense in the lessons In stories, a hero leads others, and «the lead role» is the main character. In sport and maths problems, «lead by 3» means 3 points more than the other team. In science, lead is a heavy metal used to block X-rays; old paint and pipes with lead are harmful. In pet safety, keep dogs on a lead near roads. Phrases: «take the lead», «lead the way», «lead to», «follow someone's lead». ### examples - Please lead the way to the hall. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lead/#x1) - Our team is in the lead. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lead/#x2) - Keep your dog on a lead near the road. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lead/#x3) - This road leads to the village. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lead/#x4) - She will lead the class assembly. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lead/#x5) - Too much screen time can lead to poor sleep. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lead/#x6) - Lead is a very heavy metal. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lead/#x7) - My pencil lead broke. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lead/#x8) - False confidence often leads to disaster. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lead/#x9) ### note Two words in one spelling: «lead» (leed, to guide) and «lead» (led, the metal). The past of lead (leed) is «led» — it sounds like the metal; do not write «lead» for the past. Maths: «leads by 3 points» = difference of 3. ### In the corpora - [Separating means parents stop living together as a couple; it may lead to a divorce, but not always straight away.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/adult-life/15-when-parents-separate/6/) - [The curtain call is the bows at the end, and it is rehearsed, often with the lead bowing last.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/arts/28-the-school-play-auditions-lines-stage-fright/14/) - [Warmer sand gives more girl hatchlings and cooler sand more boys, and bright beach lights can lead hatchlings the wrong way.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/biology/31-turtles-and-tortoises/13/) - [Ring-tailed lemurs live in groups of about 6 to 30 led by females, who get first choice of food.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/biology/127-madagascar-real-lemurs/5/) - [Sumatran elephants are the smallest Asian elephants, and some trained elephants help rangers patrol the forest and lead wild elephants away from farms.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/biology/162-sumatra-tigers-hairy-rhinos-and-the-venomous-loris/16/) ### Trees and pragmatics [Every meaning and example of «lead» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lead/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.