n. [ OE. ley, lay, As. leáh, leá; akin to Prov. G. lon bog, morass, grove, and perh. to L. lucus grove, E. light, n. ] A meadow or sward land; a grassy field. “Plow-torn leas.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

The lowing herd wind slowly o'er the lea. Gray. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. Lay, n. (that which is laid), 4. ] (Textile Manuf.) (a) A measure of yarn; for linen, 300 yards; for cotton, 120 yards; a lay. (b) A set of warp threads carried by a loop of the heddle. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Leached p. pr. & vb. n. Leaching. ] [ Written also leech and letch. ] 1. To remove the soluble constituents from by subjecting to the action of percolating water or other liquid; as, to leach ashes or coffee. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To dissolve out; -- often used with out; as, to leach out alkali from ashes. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Written also letch. ] [ Cf. As. leáh lye, G. lauge. See Lye. ] 1. A quantity of wood ashes, through which water passes, and thus imbibes the alkali. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A tub or vat for leaching ashes, bark, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

Leach tub, a wooden tub in which ashes are leached. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. See Leech, a physician. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To part with soluble constituents by percolation. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Naut.) See 3d Leech. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Permitting liquids to pass by percolation; not capable of retaining water; porous; pervious; -- said of gravelly or sandy soils, and the like. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Led p. pr. & vb. n. Leading. ] [ OE. leden, AS. l&aemacr_;dan (akin to OS. lēdian, D. leiden, G. leiten, Icel. leīða, Sw. leda, Dan. lede), properly a causative fr. AS. liðan to go; akin to OHG. līdan, Icel. līða, Goth. leiþan (in comp.). Cf. Lode, Loath. ] 1. To guide or conduct with the hand, or by means of some physical contact or connection; as, a father leads a child; a jockey leads a horse with a halter; a dog leads a blind man. [ 1913 Webster ]

If a blind man lead a blind man, both fall down in the ditch. Wyclif (Matt. xv. 14.) [ 1913 Webster ]

They thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill. Luke iv. 29. [ 1913 Webster ]

In thy right hand lead with thee
The mountain nymph, sweet Liberty. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To guide or conduct in a certain course, or to a certain place or end, by making the way known; to show the way, esp. by going with or going in advance of. Hence, figuratively: To direct; to counsel; to instruct; as, to lead a traveler; to lead a pupil. [ 1913 Webster ]

The Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way. Ex. xiii. 21. [ 1913 Webster ]

He leadeth me beside the still waters. Ps. xxiii. 2. [ 1913 Webster ]

This thought might lead me through the world's vain mask.
Content, though blind, had I no better guide. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To conduct or direct with authority; to have direction or charge of; as, to lead an army, an exploring party, or a search; to lead a political party. [ 1913 Webster ]

Christ took not upon him flesh and blood that he might conquer and rule nations, lead armies, or possess places. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To go or to be in advance of; to precede; hence, to be foremost or chief among; as, the big sloop led the fleet of yachts; the Guards led the attack; Demosthenes leads the orators of all ages. [ 1913 Webster ]

As Hesperus, that leads the sun his way. Fairfax. [ 1913 Webster ]

And lo ! Ben Adhem's name led all the rest. Leigh Hunt. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. To draw or direct by influence, whether good or bad; to prevail on; to induce; to entice; to allure; as, to lead one to espouse a righteous cause. [ 1913 Webster ]

He was driven by the necessities of the times, more than led by his own disposition, to any rigor of actions. Eikon Basilike. [ 1913 Webster ]

Silly women, laden with sins, led away by divers lusts. 2 Tim. iii. 6 (Rev. Ver.). [ 1913 Webster ]

6. To guide or conduct one's self in, through, or along (a certain course); hence, to proceed in the way of; to follow the path or course of; to pass; to spend. Also, to cause (one) to proceed or follow in (a certain course). [ 1913 Webster ]

That we may lead a quiet and peaceable life. 1 Tim. ii. 2. [ 1913 Webster ]

Nor thou with shadowed hint confuse
A life that leads melodious days. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

You remember . . . the life he used to lead his wife and daughter. Dickens. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. (Cards & Dominoes) To begin a game, round, or trick, with; as, to lead trumps; the double five was led. [ 1913 Webster ]

To lead astray, to guide in a wrong way, or into error; to seduce from truth or rectitude. --
To lead captive, to carry or bring into captivity. --
To lead the way, to show the way by going in front; to act as guide. Goldsmith. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Leaded; p. pr. & vb. n. Leading. ] 1. To cover, fill, or affect with lead; as, continuous firing leads the grooves of a rifle. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Print.) To place leads between the lines of; as, to lead a page; leaded matter. [ 1913 Webster ]