01 a. Guiding; directing; controlling; foremost; as, a leading motive; a leading man; a leading example.
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1.
Guiding; directing; controlling; foremost; as, a leading motive; a leading man; a leading example.
Phrases & compounds
Leading case —
a reported decision which has come to be regarded as settling the law of the question involved.
Leading motive —
a guiding theme; in the musical drama of Wagner, a marked melodic phrase or short passage which always accompanies the reappearance of a certain person, situation, abstract idea, or allusion in the course of the play; a sort of musical label. Also called leitmotif or leitmotiv.
Leading note —
the seventh note or tone in the ascending major scale; the sensible note.
Leading question —
a question so framed as to guide the person questioned in making his reply.
Leading strings —
strings by which children are supported when beginning to walk.
To be in leading strings —
to be in a state of infancy or dependence, or under the guidance of others.
Leading wheel —
a wheel situated before the driving wheels of a locomotive engine.