lead

Definitions

1. noun

   A heavy, soft, gray metal used in pipes, paint and batteries.

   Examples

   • Lead was once commonly used in water pipes.
   • The old paint contained dangerous amounts of lead.
   ≈plumbum
2. noun

   A heavy weight on a rope, used to measure how deep water is.

   Examples

   • The sailor dropped the lead to check the depth of the water.
   • They threw the lead every few minutes as the ship neared land.
3. noun

   A thin strip of metal used in old printing to space lines of type.

   Examples

   • The printer added more lead between the lines.
   • Printers kept strips of lead in trays by size.
   ≈leaden≈plumbic≈plumbous≈leaded≈leady +1 more
4. noun

   The space between lines of printed text.

   Examples

   • This text has too much lead between the lines.
   • The designer reduced the lead to fit more words on the page.
5. noun

   Sheets of lead used to cover a roof.

   Examples

   • Workers replaced the old lead on the church roof.
   • The roof was covered entirely in lead.
6. noun

   A flat roof covered with sheets of lead, in old-fashioned use.

   Examples

   • They walked out onto the leads on top of the tower.
   • From the leads, you could see the whole town.
7. noun

   The thin black part in the middle of a pencil.

   Examples

   • The pencil lead snapped when she pressed too hard.
   • He sharpened the pencil to show more lead.
   ≈pencil lead
8. noun

   Bullets, in informal speech.

   Examples

   • The robbers fired lead at the police car.
   • The wall was full of holes from lead.
9. noun

   Clothing lined with lead to protect people from X-rays.

   Examples

   • You must remember to wear your leads.
   • The technician put on her leads before starting the machine.
10. verb

    To cover or fill something with lead.

    Examples

    • The old pipes were leaded to stop leaks.
    • Workers leaded the joints of the roof.