Lead

the introductory section of a story

a jumper that consists of a short piece of wire

a soft heavy toxic malleable metallic element; bluish white when freshly cut but tarnishes readily to dull grey

evidence pointing to a possible solution

an indication of potential opportunity

a position of being the initiator of something and an example that others will follow (especially in the phrase `take the lead')

an advantage held by a competitor in a race

(baseball) the position taken by a base runner preparing to advance to the next base

the playing of a card to start a trick in bridge

a news story of major importance

an actor who plays a principal role

thin strip of metal used to separate lines of type in printing

restraint consisting of a rope (or light chain) used to restrain an animal

the timing of ignition relative to the position of the piston in an internal-combustion engine

mixture of graphite with clay in different degrees of hardness; the marking substance in a pencil

(sports) the score by which a team or individual is winning

the angle between the direction a gun is aimed and the position of a moving target (correcting for the flight time of the missile)

be conducive to

take somebody somewhere

tend to or result in

be in charge of

produce as a result or residue

lead, as in the performance of a composition

travel in front of; go in advance of others

lead, extend, or afford access

move ahead (of others) in time or space

preside over

cause something to pass or lead somewhere

stretch out over a distance, space, time, or scope; run or extend between two points or beyond a certain point

be ahead of others; be the first

cause to undertake a certain action