leading
leading Lexical Profile
leading Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Most important, foremost, or holding the first or highest position in a field, competition, or group.
"She is recognized as a leading authority on renewable energy systems."
Serving to guide, direct, or suggest a particular answer or conclusion, especially in legal questioning.
"The judge sustained the objection because the attorney had asked the witness a leading question."
Situated at the front or coming first in motion, position, or time.
"Ice began to accumulate along the leading edge of the aircraft's wing."
• noun
The action of guiding, directing, or showing the way to others; leadership or guidance.
"Under the careful leading of the expedition guide, the team crossed the glacier safely."
In typography and desktop publishing, the amount of vertical space between baselines of consecutive lines of text.
"The graphic designer increased the leading to make the dense paragraphs easier to read."
Strips, framing, or covering made of lead metal, such as the lattice holding panes of stained glass in a window.
"The artisan carefully repaired the old leading around the stained-glass panels."
Word Nuance & Usage
'Leading' is a heteronym: when meaning 'foremost' or 'guiding,' it rhymes with 'needing' (/ˈliːdɪŋ/), whereas in the typographical sense of vertical line spacing (historically made with strips of lead metal), it rhymes with 'bedding' (/ˈlɛdɪŋ/).
• Rhymes for leading
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
The adjective and action noun derive from Old English 'lǣdan' ('to guide or cause to go'); the typographical noun comes from the noun 'lead' (the heavy metal, Old English 'lēad'), referring to thin strips of lead once inserted between lines of handset type.