Lead v. t. [imp. & p. p. Led p. pr. & vb. n. Leading.]
 1. To guide or conduct with the hand, or by means of some physical contact or connection; as, a father leads a child; a jockey leads a horse with a halter; a dog leads a blind man.
    If a blind man lead a blind man, both fall down in the ditch.   --Wyclif (Matt. xv. 14.)
    They thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill.   --Luke iv. 29.
 In thy right hand lead with thee
 The mountain nymph, sweet Liberty.   --Milton.
 2. To guide or conduct in a certain course, or to a certain place or end, by making the way known; to show the way, esp. by going with or going in advance of.  Hence, figuratively: To direct; to counsel; to instruct; as, to lead a traveler; to lead a pupil.
    The Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way.   --Ex. xiii. 21.
    He leadeth me beside the still waters.   --Ps. xxiii. 2.
 This thought might lead me through the world's vain mask.
 Content, though blind, had I no better guide.   --Milton.
 3. To conduct or direct with authority; to have direction or charge of; as, to lead an army, an exploring party, or a search; to lead a political party.
    Christ took not upon him flesh and blood that he might conquer and rule nations, lead armies, or possess places.   --South.
 4. To go or to be in advance of; to precede; hence, to be foremost or chief among; as, the big sloop led the fleet of yachts; the Guards led the attack; Demosthenes leads the orators of all ages.
    As Hesperus, that leads the sun his way.   --Fairfax.
    And lo ! Ben Adhem's name led all the rest.   --Leigh Hunt.
 5. To draw or direct by influence, whether good or bad; to prevail on; to induce; to entice; to allure; as, to lead one to espouse a righteous cause.
    He was driven by the necessities of the times, more than led by his own disposition, to any rigor of actions.   --Eikon Basilike.
    Silly women, laden with sins, led away by divers lusts.   --2 Tim. iii. 6 (Rev. Ver.).
 6. To guide or conduct one's self in, through, or along (a certain course); hence, to proceed in the way of; to follow the path or course of; to pass; to spend. Also, to cause (one) to proceed or follow in (a certain course).
    That we may lead a quiet and peaceable life.   --1 Tim. ii. 2.
 Nor thou with shadowed hint confuse
 A life that leads melodious days.   --Tennyson.
    You remember . . . the life he used to lead his wife and daughter.   --Dickens.
 7. Cards & Dominoes To begin a game, round, or trick, with; as, to lead trumps; the double five was led.
 To lead astray, to guide in a wrong way, or into error; to seduce from truth or rectitude.
 To lead captive, to carry or bring into captivity.
 To lead the way, to show the way by going in front; to act as guide. --Goldsmith.