(1) A soft heavy toxic malleable metallic element,an advantage held by a competitor in a race,evidence pointing to a possible solution,a position of leadership (especially in the phrase `take the lead'),the angle between the direction a gun is aimed and the position of a moving target (correcting for the flight time of the missile),the introductory section of a story,an actor who plays a principal role,(baseball) the position taken by a base runner preparing to advance to the next base,an indication of potential opportunity,a news story of major importance 1,the timing of ignition relative to the position of the piston in an internal-combustion engine 1,restraint consisting of a rope (or light chain) used to restrain an animal 1,thin strip of metal used to separate lines of type in printing 1,mixture of graphite with clay in different degrees of hardness,be in charge of,be ahead of others,be the first,be conducive to,lead, as in the performance of a composition,pass or spend,lead, extend, or afford access,move ahead (of others) in time or space 1,cause something to pass or lead somewhere,preside over.

(2) A soft heavy toxic malleable metallic element.

(3) An advantage held by a competitor in a race.

(4) Evidence pointing to a possible solution.

(5) A position of leadership (especially in the phrase `take the lead').

(6) The angle between the direction a gun is aimed and the position of a moving target (correcting for the flight time of the missile).

(7) The introductory section of a story.

(8) An actor who plays a principal role.

(9) (baseball) the position taken by a base runner preparing to advance to the next base.

(10) An indication of potential opportunity.

(11) A news story of major importance 1.

(12) The timing of ignition relative to the position of the piston in an internal-combustion engine 1.

(13) Restraint consisting of a rope (or light chain) used to restrain an animal 1.

(14) Thin strip of metal used to separate lines of type in printing 1.

(15) Mixture of graphite with clay in different degrees of hardness.

(16) Be in charge of.

(17) Be ahead of others.

(18) Be the first.

(19) Be conducive to.

(20) Lead.

(21) as in the performance of a composition.

(22) Pass or spend.

(23) extend.

(24) or afford access.

(25) Move ahead (of others) in time or space 1.

(26) Cause something to pass or lead somewhere.

(27) Preside over.