(ˈ)lē|dəp transitive verb
obsolete : to lead off (a dance)
intransitive verb
1. : to prepare the way : constitute the antecedents or preliminaries — used with to
the series of events which led up to the former's dismissal — Current Biography
the first 60 pages of this book lead up to the revolution of 1911 — Times Literary Supplement
2. : to make a gradual or indirect approach to a topic — used with to
would she let her have the dress? Perhaps she should have led up to it — Stuart Cloete