Thesaurus: leading

Related headwords

Definitions

1. p. pr. & vb. n. of Lead
2. p. pr. & vb. n. of Lead
3. a. Guiding; directing; controlling; foremost; as, a leading motive; a leading man; a leading example.
4. n. The act of guiding, directing, governing, or enticing; guidance.
5. n. Suggestion; hint; example.
6. adj. indicating the most important performer or role
7. adj. greatest in importance or degree or significance or achievement
8. adj. going or proceeding or going in advance; showing the way
9. adj. having the leading position or higher score in a contest
10. n. thin strip of metal used to separate lines of type in printing
11. n. the activity of leading
12. Guiding; directing; controlling; foremost; as, a leading motive; a leading man; a leading example. -- Lead"ing*ly, adv. Leading case (Law), a reported decision which has come to be regarded as settling the law of the question involved. Abbott. -- Leading motive Etym: [a translation of G. leitmotif] (Mus.), a guiding theme; in the modern music 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. -- 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. 1. The act of guiding, directing, governing, or enticing; guidance. Shak. 2. Suggestion; hint; example. [Archaic] Bacon.
13. Guiding; directing; controlling; foremost; as, a leadingmotive; a leading man; a leading example.-- Lead"ing*ly, adv. Leading case (Law), a reported decision whichhas come to be regarded as settling the law of the question involved.Abbott.-- Leading motive Etym: [a translation of G. leitmotif] (Mus.), aguiding theme; in the modern music drama of Wagner, a marked melodicphrase or short passage which always accompanies the reappearance ofa certain person, situation, abstract idea, or allusion in the courseof the play; a sort of musical label.-- Leading note (Mus.), the seventh note or tone in the ascendingmajor scale; the sensible note.-- Leading question, a question so framed as to guide the personquestioned in making his reply.-- Leading strings, strings by which children are supported whenbeginning to walk.-- To be in leading strings, to be in a state of infancy ordependence, or under the guidance of others.-- Leading wheel, a wheel situated before the driving wheels of alocomotive engine.