- the activity of leading
"his leadership inspired the team"

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

- going or proceeding or going in advance

- showing the way
"we rode in the leading car"
"the leading edge of technology"

- purposefully formulated to elicit a desired response
"a leading question"

- having the leading position or higher score in a contest
"he is ahead by a pawn"
"the leading team in the pennant race"

1. Guiding; directing; controlling; foremost; as, a leading motive; a leading man; a leading example. -- Lead"ing*ly, adv.

Leading case
(Law), a reported decision which has come to be regarded as settling the law of the question involved. Abbott.

Leading motive
[a translation of G. leitmotif] (Mus.), a guiding theme; in the modern music drama of Wagner, a marked melodic phrase or short passage which always accompanies the reappearance of a certain person, situation, abstract idea, or allusion in the course of the play; a sort of musical label.

Leading note
(Mus.), the seventh note or tone in the ascending major scale; the sensible note.

Leading question
a question so framed as to guide the person questioned in making his reply.

Leading strings
strings by which children are supported when beginning to walk.

To be in leading strings
to be in a state of infancy or dependence, or under the guidance of others.

Leading wheel
a wheel situated before the driving wheels of a locomotive engine.

1. The act of guiding, directing, governing, or enticing; guidance. Shak.

2. Suggestion; hint; example. [Archaic] Bacon.