Meaning

• To cover, fill, or affect with lead

  "continuous firing leads the grooves of a rifle."

• To place leads between the lines of.

  "leaded matter"

Meaning

• (heading) To guide or conduct.

• To guide or conduct, as by accompanying, going before, showing, influencing, directing with authority, etc.; to have precedence or preeminence; to be first or chief; — used in most of the senses of the transitive verb.

• (heading) To begin, to be ahead.

• To draw or direct by influence, whether good or bad; to prevail on; to induce; to entice; to allure

  "to lead someone to a righteous cause"

• To tend or reach in a certain direction, or to a certain place.

  "the path leads to the mill;  gambling leads to other vices"

• To produce (with to).

  "The shock led to a change in his behaviour."

• (transitive) To live or experience (a particular way of life).

Meaning

• Providing guidance or direction.

  "Avoid leading questions if you really want the truth."

• Ranking first.

  "He is a leading supplier of plumbing supplies in the county."

• Occurring in advance; preceding.

  "The stock market can be a leading economic indicator."