Reverse Dictionary: LEAD

ADJECTIVES
► ACEPHAL having no head or leader or chief → 1549 obs.
► ACEPHALOUS having or recognizing no governing head or chief → 1751
► CAPTAIN chief, principal, leading → 1566 obs.
► DUCTARIOUS leading, guiding → 1656 obs.
► MANUDUCTIVE that leads by the hand → 1626 obs.
► MANUDUCTORY leading by or as by the hand; that leads up to or towards → 1694

NOUNS
► BELL-WETHERING the fact of leading and being led ‘like sheep’ → 1882
► DUCT the act of leading; guidance → 1654 obs.
► LEAD leading, direction, guidance → a1300 obs.
► LEADANCE the act of leading; guidance → 1682 obs.
► MANUDUCTION the act of leading, guiding, or introducing; guidance, introduction, direction → 1502

NOUNS – PERSON
► AARON, THE the leader of a gang → 1909 thieves’ sl. (Bk.)
► ACEMAN a leader of a street gang → 1953 US sl.
► ACEPHALIST one who acknowledges no head or superior → 1659 obs.
► AYATOLLAH a dogmatic leader; an influential or powerful person → 1979
► BALDOBER ► BALDOVER ► BALDOWER a boss, a leader, a spokesman → 1889 UK criminals’ sl.
► BEGINNER he who or that which goes or comes first, or takes the lead → c1613 obs.
► BELL-COW a leader, a big shot; a person who tries to appear important → 1896 Amer. dial.
► BELL-HORSE a title bestowed on anyone in the position of leader of a party, literally or figuratively → 1876 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► BELL SHEEP a leader; a big shot; a person who tries to appear important → 1969 Amer. dial.
► BELL-WETHER ► BELWEATHER a chief or leader; chiefly contemptuous usage → c1430
► BIG DADDY a high-ranking or important person; a leader; a person of influence and authority → 1948 sl., orig. US
► BIG DOG a person of standing, authority, or office; a high-ranking or important person; a recognized leader or chief → 1833 US sl.
► BIG ENCHILADA a high-ranking or important person; an influential person; the boss, the leader → 1973 US sl.
► BIG FISH a high-ranking or powerful, important person; an influential person; the boss, the leader → 1836 sl., orig. US
► BIG FROG IN A SMALL POND an important person in a small place or position; someone who is respected and honoured in a small company, school, or city; a leader in a small group → 2004 Amer. colloq. (Bk.)
► BIGGEST TOAD IN THE PUDDLE a leader, a chief, the most important person in the situation; a consequential person in a small town → 1848 US sl.
► BIG GUY a boss or leader; a powerful, wealthy, or prominent person; chiefly used with ‘the’ → 1921
► BIG MAN a man of high status or importance in a social group, organization, business, etc.; a leader, a boss → 1789
► BIG POT a leader, a highly important person in his own particular sphere, a person of consequence → 1878 sl.
► BLUE-EYED BOY a man destined for and being groomed for principal leadership or other reward → 1924 Amer. sl.
► BOOSHWAY orig. the voyageur in charge of a trading post or expedition; hence, a boss, a leader; an important person → 1870 Amer. dial.
► BOSS COCKY a leader or organizer → 1945 Aust. (Bk.)
► BRAG DOG the leader of the pack → 1990 Amer. dial. (Bk.)
► BUDGEWAY ► BUGHEWAY orig. the voyageur in charge of a trading post or expedition; hence, a boss, a leader; an important person → 1850 Amer. dial.
► BULL GOOSE a leader, a boss → 1932 Amer. dial.
► BUSHWA orig. the voyageur in charge of a trading post or expedition; hence, a boss, a leader; an important person → 1966 Amer. dial.
► CAPTAIN one who excels; a leader → 1917 Amer. dial.
► CAPTAIN TOM the head or leader of a mob; also, the mob itself → 1891 sl. (Bk.)
► CHIEFY the person in charge → 1942 services’ sl.
► CHINGASO ► CHINGAZO the boss, the leader → 1990s sl.
► COCK-OF-THE-WALK a leader, a chief → 1999  (Bk.)
► DADDY a leader → 2001 UK sl., orig. prison usage
► DADS a community leader → 1990s W. Indies usage 
► DUISTRE a leader, a conductor → 1393 obs.
► DUKE a leader; a leader of an army, a captain or general; a chief, a ruler → c1275 obs.
► DUX a leader, a chief; the head pupil in a class or division in a school → a1832
► ELECTO a leader or commander chosen by mutineers → 1609 obs.
► FACE a top person, a leader → 1960s Brit. sl.
► FADE ► FAID a leader, a guide; applied to the chief or director in games, sports, etc. → 1887 Sc. obs.
► FAIR-HAIRED BOY a man destined for and being groomed for principal leadership or other reward→ 1918 Amer. sl.
► GEE, THE the most important person in a given environment; the leader → 1964 US sl.
► GENERAL a commander, a leader; a ruler → 1582
► GENTLEMAN OF LEAD one who has a recognized leading position → 1842
► GURU a leader, expert, or authority in some field, esp. a charismatic or spiritual figure who attracts a devoted following → 1960s Amer. sl.
► GUV the person in charge → 1890 Brit. sl.
► HARD-ON a severe and intolerant person, esp. a martinet leader or superior → 1980s US sl.
► HEAD a person to whom others are subordinate; a chief, a captain, a commander, a ruler, a leader, a principal person → c897
► HEAD CHEESE the person in charge → 1914 US sl.
► HEAD COCK the person in charge; the boss; the ringleader  → 1972 US sl.
► HEAD DEVIL a person in charge; a boss; a ringleader → 1844 US sl.
► HEADER a person who is the head, chief, captain, or ruler of a group of people; a leader → 1660 obs.
► HEAD GEE, THE the most important person in a given environment; the leader → 1912 Aust. sl.
► HEADLING a chieftain, a leader → c1300 obs.
► HEADMAN a chief man, chief, leader → c1000
► HEAD MOGUL the leader or instigator for action in a community; sometimes used in a derogatory manner for someone who is rich → 1950 Amer. dial.
► HEAD MOTHERFUCKER IN CHARGE the leader of an enterprise → 2002 US sl.
► HEAD-MUCK one who takes the chief part in anything; a leader, a person of consequence, a master → 1902 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► HEAD NIGGER IN CHARGE a sarcastic reference to any Black authority figure; the leader of an enterprise → 1973 African-American sl.
► HEAD PUSH the person in charge → 1913 US sl.
► HEAD-SHA-RAG ► HEAD-SIR-RAG one who takes the chief part in anything; a leader, a person of consequence, a master → 1893 Eng. dial.
► HEADSMAN a chief, leader, head man → a1400
► HEAD SQUEEZE a boss or foreman; an important person; the leader of a gang; the head of any organization → 1966 Amer. dial.
► HEAD WOMAN the female head or most senior woman of a tribe, village, clan, etc. → 1791
► HEAVYWEIGHT an important person; a successful person; a leader → 1879 US colloq.
► HEN OF THE WALK a stalwart working-class woman; a woman of parts, a leader → 1899 UK sl.
► HERE a lord. a chief, a leader → a1000 Sc. obs.
► HIGH-MUCK-A-MUCK chief officer, boss, manager, leader → 1856 Amer. sl.
► HIGH-UP a high-ranking, influential, or important person; the boss, the leader; a person in authority → 1882 colloq.
► HIS NIBS the leader of the band → 1937 US sl.
► H.M.I.C. the dominant figure in a given situation or institution; the leader of an enterprise (Head Motherfucker In Charge) → 1990 US sl.
► HONCHO a leader, esp. an assertive leader; a chief → 1945 sl., orig. & chiefly US
► KING-FISH the person in charge → 1933 US sl.
► LATTEW a leader → c825 obs.
► LEADERESS a female leader → 1599
► LEAD-MASTER a leader, a commander → 1791 Sc.
► MACGREGOR, THE the leading man, the chief personage → 1929 Sc.
► MAIN CHEESE the person in charge → 1902 sl.
► MAIN GUY, THE a man of importance, prominence, or authority; the boss; the leader → 1882 Amer. sl.
► MAIN SQUEEZE, THE the person in charge → 1896 US sl.
► MAN OF LEAD one who has a recognized leading position → 1793
► MARSHAL a commander, a general, a leader → a1300 obs.
► MASTER one having direction or control over the action of others; a director, a leader, a chief, a commander; a ruler, a governor → c1000 obs.
► MASTER-MAN a chief, a leader → a1300 chiefly obs.
► MOB-MASTER one who controls a mob; the leader of a mob → a1734
► MOSES a person resembling the Hebrew prophet Moses, esp. as lawgiver or leader → 1528
► MOTOR the initiator of something; esp. the instigator of a plot, or leader of a political organization, etc. → 1600 obs.
► MR. BIG the person in charge → 1940 sl.
► MR. BOSS HOSS a leader; slightly mocking usage → 1980s US sl.
► MUGGINS a local leader → 1896 humorous usage, obs.
► MUGWUMP an important person; a leader; a boss → 1828 chiefly N. Amer.
► NUMBER UNO the leader or most important person in any situation → Aust. sl.
► POINT MAN a person who plays a crucial, often hazardous role in the forefront of an enterprise; a person designated to take the lead in a project or task → Amer. sl.
► POINT PERSON a person who plays a crucial, often hazardous role in the forefront of an enterprise; a person designated to take the lead in a project or task → Amer. sl.
► PRIMATE a person who is first in rank or importance; a chief, a leader → c1384
► PRIMORE a chief, a leader → 1625 obs.
► QUINCURION a leader of five men → 1632 obs.
► RAMROD a manager or leader, usually a tough person or harsh disciplinarian → 1880 Amer. dial.
► RINGTAIL LEADER the leader of the leaders; a ring-leader → 1912 Amer. dial.
► ROD a manager or leader, usually a tough person or harsh disciplinarian → L19 sl.
► SKIP a skipper (a captain, leader, etc.) → 1830 UK
► SKULL a leader or chief; an expert → 1880 US & Aust. sl.
► TONGUE OF THE TRUMP the most important person or thing; the principal person in any undertaking; the leader; that which is essential to the success of anything → 1820 Sc.
► TOP BANANA the leader, boss → 1974 sl. chiefly US
► TOP DOG the leader or chief of a group; the winner, leader, or dominant person → 1900 sl.
► TOP SAWYER the leader in any profession, job, or occupation; a superior; a person of importance; the best person → 1826 sl.
► TRUMP the person in charge → 1925 Aust. & NZ sl.
► UNCROWNED KING a person who is regarded as the unofficial leader of his own particular circle → 1984 Aust. colloq. (Bk.)
► WHEEL a leader; an important person → 1933 US sl.
► WHITE-HAIRED BOY a man destined for and being groomed for principal leadership or other reward → 1923 Amer. sl.
► WORKS, THE the leader, the boss → 1900s sl.

VERBS
► ACE to be in charge of; to lead → 1953 Amer. sl.
► BEACON to give light and guidance to; to lead → 1835
► BEAR THE LANTERN to show the way as a leader → a1483 obs.
► BEGIN THE DANCE to take the lead in any course of action → 1579
► BELEAD to conduct, to lead, to use → c1275 obs.
► CARRY to lead or be in charge of something → 1913 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
► CRUISE to take someone, to lead someone → 1946 US sl.
► DADE to lead; to hold up a child beginning to walk; to support; to walk arm in arm → 1874 Eng. dial.
► DEDUCE to lead, to bring → 1545 obs.
► FURE to lead, to conduct → c1540 Sc., obs.
► GUY to conduct or lead on the way; to guide; to direct the course of a vehicle, an instrument, etc. → 1362 obs.
► HAVE to take, to bear, to carry; to lead → 1792 Sc. & Eng. dial.
► HONCHO to organize, supervise, or be the leader of → 1945 sl.
► LEAD THE DANCE to take the lead in any course of action → c1325
► LEAD THE RING to take the lead; to be foremost or first → a1450 obs.
► LERE to show the way, to lead, to guide → c1320 obs.
► LET THE BEST DOG LEAP OVER THE STILE FIRST to allow the best qualified or most suitable person to take the lead → 18C sl.
► MANUDUCE to lead, to guide, to direct → 1657 obs.
► MANUDUCT to lead or guide by the hand → 1641 obs.
► PRIME to domineer, to act as the leader → 1756 obs.
► RIDE THE FORE-HORSE to take the lead; to have the upper hand → 1824 Sc.
► RULE to be the leader of a group → 1960s Amer. sl.
► RULE THE RING to take the lead; to be foremost or first → a1529 obs.
► RULE THE ROAST to lead, to domineer → c1380 sl.
► TOLE to lead or bring along; to induce; to decoy → 1913 Amer. dial. (Bk.)
► TRAIL to entice or lead → a1717