ˈlēdə(r) noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English leder, ledere, from leden to lead + -er, -ere -er
1. : something that leads: as
a.
(1) : a primary or terminal shoot of a plant (as a main branch of an apple tree or the terminal shoot of a spruce tree)
(2) : the upper portion of the primary axis of a tree especially when extending beyond the rest of the head and forming the apex
b. : a remark or question intended or likely to bring a response especially of a particular kind : a leading remark or question
did not respond to his tactful leader
c. : tendon , sinew
the leaders in his wrists moved like baling wire — Dillon Anderson
d. : the principal wheel in machinery ; also : a part to guide exactly the motion of another piece
e. leaders plural
(1) : dots or hyphens (as in a table or index) to lead the eye horizontally across a space to the right word or number
(2) : a piece of type faced with a row of dots or hyphens
f. chiefly Britain : a newspaper editorial
g. : a branch or small vein leading to a larger one in a mine
h. : a thin paper tube containing quick match to cause rapid ignition (as of fireworks)
i.
(1) : a net, fence, or wall for leading fish into a pound, weir, or trap
(2) : a short length of material (as silkworm gut, wire, or heavy line) used to attach the end of a fishline to a lure or hook
j. : a pipe for conducting water or other fluid to some particular place (as a rainwater pipe from a roof to a cistern or the ground or a hot-air pipe in a heating system for a building)
k. : an article of value offered at an attractive special low price to stimulate business — compare loss leader
l. : lead 3a(2)
m. : a short length of blank film attached to each end of a filmstrip or of a reel of motion-picture film for threading into a film mechanism
n. : a length of yarn, rope, or cloth left threaded in a machine (as a textile machine) to act as a guide for new material attached to it
o. or leader stroke : an electrical discharge that precedes the main discharge and ionizes the path through which the main discharge surges (as in a lightning stroke)
p. : something that ranks first or has a margin of advantage or precedence over others
the leaders among major communicable diseases
steel and utilities were the leaders in today's stock market
2. : a person or animal that leads: as
a. : guide , conductor
acted as our leader on the hazardous climb
b.
(1) : a person who directs and usually accompanies an armed force : commander , captain
captains of war, and leaders of their armies — John Locke
(2) : a person who by force of example, talents, or qualities of leadership plays a directing role, wields commanding influence, or has a following in any sphere of activity or thought
the great religious leaders of mankind
a leader in the reform movement
summoned a conference of business leaders
c.
(1) : the principal officer of a British political party who usually exercises authority over both the parliamentary party and the national party organization
while the party remains in opposition the leader of the Parliamentary Labour Party has nothing like the authority granted by the Conservative Party to its leader — R.T.McKenzie
(2) : a member often chosen by caucus of his party to exercise general direction of or management of a particular phase of party activities in a legislative body — usually used with a qualifier; compare floor leader , leader of the opposition , majority leader , minority leader
(3) : such a member exercising primary authority over the business of the whole legislative body when his party constitutes a majority in the house — usually used in phrases including the name of the legislative body
responsible to the prime minister as leader of the House — T.E.May
leader of the House of Lords
the leader of the Executive Council … in New Zealand — Walter Nash
(4) : one that exercises paramount but to some degree responsible authority over a state or local party organization
the leader is seldom the titular head of the party organization — H.R.Penniman
the leader of the Connecticut Democratic party
— compare boss V 3a
(5) : the principal member of the party elite in a totalitarian system (as facism or naziism) endowed by official ideology with a heroic or mystical character, exercising state power with a minimum of formal constitutional restraints, and characterized by extreme use of nationalist demagogy and claims to be above narrow class or group interests
the leader manipulates the people as an artist molds clay — G.H.Sabine
d.
(1) : conductor 6
(2) : the leading performer of a musical ensemble
the concertmaster is the leader of the violin section
e. : the front or foremost person in a file or advancing body
f. : the first player in any of various games
g.
(1) : a horse placed in advance of others (as either of a forward pair of horses or the front horse of a tandem team)
(2) Midland : lead horse
h. : a person who directs a class in the Methodist Church
i. : the counsel in an English legal proceeding who is entitled to precedence over his associates or is entitled to manage a case
j.
(1) : an adult immediately responsible for the guidance of a Girl Scout troop
(2) : a woman who guides the activities of blue birds — compare adviser , guardian
k. : a skilled employee who supervises one or more groups of workers : straw boss , foreman