leading

Etymology 1

From Middle English ledinge, ledynge, ledand, ledande, ledende, from Old English lǣdende, from Proto-West Germanic *laidijandī, from Proto-Germanic *laidijandz, present participle of Proto-Germanic *laidijaną (“to lead”), equivalent to lead + -ing. Compare West Frisian liedend, Dutch leidend, German leitend, Swedish ledande, Icelandic leiðandi.

verb

1. present participle and gerund of lead

adj

1. Providing guidance or direction.
   Avoid leading questions if you really want the truth.
2. Ranking first.
   He is a leading supplier of plumbing supplies in the county.
3. Occurring in advance; preceding.
   The stock market can be a leading economic indicator.

Etymology 2

From Middle English leding, ledyng, ledinge, ledunge, equivalent to lead + -ing. Cognate with Dutch leiding (“conduit, leading, guidance, leadership”), German Leitung (“line, conduit, cable”).

noun

1. An act by which one is led or guided.
   It has been said that we ought not to force our way, but to wait for the openings, and leadings of Providence; but it might with equal propriety be answered in this case, neither ought we to neglect embracing those openings in providence which daily present themselves to us. 1792, William Carey, An Enquiry into the Obligations of Christians to Use Means for the
   In his poetic method each writer followed the leadings of his own genius, without reference to common rules and standards; the individualism of the Revolutionary epoch asserted itself to the full. 1904, Edward Dowden, Robert Browning
2. (archaic) Command of an army or military unit.

Etymology 3

From Middle English leedynge, equivalent to lead (chemical element) + -ing.

noun

1. (typography) Vertical space added between lines; line spacing.