• Leading

    Pronunciation

    • Rhymes: -iːdɪŋ
    • Rhymes: -É›dɪŋ

    Origin 1

    From Old English lǣdan, probably a causative form of liþan ("travel").

    Verb

    leading
      • 1898, Winston Churchill, The Celebrity Chapter 2, I had occasion … to make a somewhat long business trip to Chicago, and on my return … I found Farrar awaiting me in the railway station. He smiled his wonted fraction by way of greeting, …, and finally leading me to his buggy, turned and drove out of town.
    1. Present participle of lead

    Full definition of leading

    Adjective

    leading

    1. Providing guidance or direction.Avoiding leading questions if you really want the truth.
    2. Ranking first.He is a leading supplier of plumbing supplies in the county.
    3. Occurring in advance; preceding.The stock market can be a leading economic indicator.

    Coordinate terms

    Derived terms

    Noun

    leading

    (plural leadings)
    1. An act by which one is led or guided
      • 1792, William Carey, An Enquiry into the Obligations of Christians to Use Means for the Chapter , It has been said that we ought not to force our way, but to wait for the openings, and leadings of Providence; but it might with equal propriety be answered in this case, neither ought we to neglect embracing those openings in providence which daily present themselves to us.
      • 1855, Walt Whitman, Leaves of Grass Chapter , I do not affirm that what you see beyond is futile, I do not advise you to stop, ...
        I do not say leadings you thought great are not great, But I say that none lead to greater than these lead to.
      • 1904, Edward Dowden, Robert Browning Chapter , In his poetic method each writer followed the leadings of his own genius, without reference to common rules and standards; the individualism of the Revolutionary epoch asserted itself to the full.

    Pronunciation

    • IPA: /ˈlÉ›dɪŋ/

    Origin 2

    From lead (chemical element).

    Noun

    leading

    (uncountable)
    1. (typography) Vertical space added between lines; line spacing
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