— leaderless , adj.
/lee"deuhr/ , n.
1. a person or thing that leads.
2. a guiding or directing head, as of an army, movement, or political group.
3. Music.
a. a conductor or director, as of an orchestra, band, or chorus.
b. the player at the head of the first violins in an orchestra, the principal cornetist in a band, or the principal soprano in a chorus, to whom any incidental solos are usually assigned.
4. a featured article of trade, esp. one offered at a low price to attract customers. Cf. loss leader .
5. Journalism.
a. See leading article (def. 1).
b. Also called leading article . Brit. the principal editorial in a newspaper.
6. blank film or tape at the beginning of a length of film or magnetic tape, used for threading a motion-picture camera, tape recorder, etc. Cf. trailer (def. 6).
7. Angling.
a. a length of nylon, silkworm gut, wire, or the like, to which the lure or hook is attached.
b. the net used to direct fish into a weir, pound, etc.
8. a pipe for conveying rain water downward, as from a roof; downspout.
9. a horse harnessed at the front of a team.
10. leaders , Print. a row of dots or a short line to lead the eye across a space.
11. Naut. lead 1 (def. 46b).
12. a duct for conveying warm air from a hot-air furnace to a register or stack.
13. Mining. a thin vein of ore connected with a large vein.
[ 1250-1300; ME leder ( e ). See LEAD 1 , -ER 1 ]