n. 1 a a person or thing that leads. b a person followed by others. 2 a the principal player in a music group or of the first violins in an orchestra. b US a conductor of an orchestra. 3 Brit. = leading article. 4 a short strip of non-functioning material at each end of a reel of film or recording tape for connection to the spool. 5 (in full Leader of the House) Brit. a member of the government officially responsible for initiating business in Parliament. 6 a shoot of a plant at the apex of a stem or of the main branch. 7 (in pl.) Printing a series of dots or dashes across the page to guide the eye, esp. in tabulated material. 8 the horse placed at the front in a team or pair. leaderless adj. leadership n.
[ OE ldere (as LEAD(1)) ]