Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

leading

1 adjective
     
lead‧ing1 W2 [only before noun]
1 best, most important, or most successful:
The army played a leading role in organizing the attempted coup.
the leading industrial nations
a leading heart specialist
leading members of the government
2

leading edge

a) technicalAV the part of something that is at the front of it when it moves
b) the part of an activity where the most modern and advanced equipment and methods are used
leading edge of
This is the leading edge of medical technology.
➔ leading-edge
3

leading light

a respected person who leads a group or organization, or is important in a particular area of knowledge or activity:
The two women were leading lights of the women's union.
4

leading question

a question that deliberately tricks someone into giving the answer you want:
Don't ask leading questions.
5

leading lady/man

APTAM the woman or man who acts the most important female or male part in a film, play etc
➔ leading articleWORD FOCUS: important WORD FOCUS: important
similar words: main, key, chief, principal, leading, vital, crucial, essential, significant
not important: unimportant, trivial, minor, irrelevant, insignificant

➔ See also important
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
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