lead: meaning and words from its letters
4 letters · 5 letter points · starts with L · ends with D
Meaning of lead
noun
- uncountable
A heavy, pliable, inelastic metal element, having a bright, bluish color, but easily tarnished; both malleable and ductile, though with little tenacity. It is easily fusible, forms alloys with other metals, and is an ingredient of solder and type metal. Atomic number 82.
- countable
A plummet or mass of lead attached to a line, used in sounding depth at sea or to estimate velocity in knots.
- countable, uncountable
A thin strip of type metal, used to separate lines of type in printing.
- uncountable
Vertical space in advance of a row or between rows of text. Also known as leading.
Example: This copy has too much lead; I prefer less space between the lines.
Listed forms: leads.
Source: Wiktionary — lead.
verb
- transitive
To cover, fill, or affect with lead.
Example: continuous firing leads the grooves of a rifle.
- historical, transitive
To place leads between the lines of.
Example: to lead a page
Listed forms: leads, leading, leaded.
Source: Wiktionary — lead.
verb
- transitive
To guide or conduct. To guide or conduct with the hand, or by means of some physical contact connection.
Example: a father leads a child
- transitive
To guide or conduct. To guide or conduct in a certain course, or to a certain place or end, by making the way known; to show the way, especially by going with or going in advance of; to guide somebody somewhere or to bring somebody somewhere by means of instructions.
Example: The guide was able to lead the tourists through the jungle safely.
- figuratively, transitive
To guide or conduct. To direct; to counsel; to instruct.
Example: A good teacher should lead their students to the right answer.
- transitive
To guide or conduct. To conduct or direct with authority; to have direction or charge of; to command, especially a military or business unit.
Example: to lead a political party
Listed forms: leads, leading, led, glossary, leadest.
Source: Wiktionary — lead.
Adapted from Wiktionary contributors via Kaikki.org. Selected senses and forms; quotations omitted. Definition text is CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms by meaning
Words are grouped by sense, so they are not necessarily interchangeable in every context. Search synonyms for lead.
noun
evidence pointing to a possible solution
noun
the introductory section of a story
- lead-in
- lede
noun
an actor who plays a principal role
noun
an indication of potential opportunity
Open English WordNet Team, 2025, derived from Princeton University WordNet; selected synonym groups under CC BY 4.0. Source · OEWN notice · Princeton notice.
Is lead in our word lists?
| Word list | Status |
|---|---|
| American English | Found |
| British English | Found |
| Extended English | Found |
These are spelling-list matches, not official game validity checks. Check the rules and dictionary used by your game.
Letter-value score of lead
L(1) + E(1) + A(1) + D(2) = 5 points.
This is a sum of letter values without board bonuses or word multipliers. A blank tile is worth zero: subtract the value of each letter supplied by a blank. The score does not establish game validity. Full letter-value table.
Anagrams of lead
3 other standard-list words use exactly these letters, including repeated letters.
Shorter words from lead
12 shorter standard-list words can be made using no letter more often than it occurs in lead. Showing up to 24, longest first.