LEADER

noun Date: 14th century something that leads: as, a primary or terminal shoot of a plant, tendon , sinew , dots or hyphens (as in an index) used to lead the eye horizontally ; ellipsis 2, a newspaper editorial, e. something for guiding fish into a trap, a short length of material for attaching the end of a fishing line to a lure or hook, loss ~ , something that ranks first, a blank section at the beginning or end of a reel of film or recorded tape, a person who leads: as, guide , conductor , b. a person who directs a military force or unit, a person who has commanding authority or influence, c. the principal officer of a British political party, a party member chosen to manage party activities in a legislative body, such a party member presiding over the whole legislative body when the party constitutes a majority, d. conductor c, a first or principal performer of a group, a horse placed in advance of the other horses of a team, ~less adjective