Leading vs. Loaded — What's the Difference?

In typography, leading ( LED-ing) is the space between adjacent lines of type; the exact definition varies. In hand typesetting, leading is the thin strips of lead (or aluminium) that were inserted between lines of type in the composing stick to increase the vertical distance between them.

Carrying a load.

Having a position in the lead; foremost

Equipped with many accessories or features

Chief; principal

Having ammunition in the firing chamber or magazine. Used of a firearm

Of or performing a principal role in a film, play, show, or other scripted production

Unbalanced because of added weight. Used of dice.

Formulated so as to elicit a desired response

Having great meaning, seriousness, or implication

First or foremost

(Slang) Drunk or intoxicated.

Most important

(Slang) Having a great deal of money; rich.

To show the way to by going in advance

Simple past tense and past participle of load

To guide or direct in a course

Burdened by some heavy load; packed.

To serve as a route for; take

(of a projectile weapon) Having a live round of ammunition in the chamber.

To be a channel or conduit for (water or electricity, for example).

(colloquial) Possessing great wealth.

To guide the behavior or opinion of; induce

(slang) Drunk.

To direct the performance or activities of

(baseball) Pertaining to a situation where there is a runner at each of the three bases.

To inspire the conduct of

Of a die or dice: weighted asymmetrically, and so biased to produce predictable throws.

To play a principal or guiding role in

(of a question) Designed to produce a predictable answer, or to lay a trap.

To go or be at the head of

(of a word or phrase) Having strong connotations that colour the literal meaning and are likely to provoke an emotional response. Sometimes used loosely to describe a word that simply has many different meanings.

To be ahead of

(of an item offered for sale, especially an automobile) Equipped with numerous options.

To be foremost in or among

Covered with a topping or toppings.

To pass or go through; live

Weighted with lead or similar.

To begin or open with, as in games

Containing as much or as many as is possible; - of containers, vehicles, trays, etc.; as, a tray loaded with dishes

To guide (a partner) in dancing.

Containing a shell or an explosive charge ready for firing; - of firearms. Opposite of unloaded.

To aim in front of (a moving target).

Charged with associative significance and often meant to mislead or influence; - of statements or questions; as, a loaded question.

(Sports) To pass a ball or puck ahead of (a moving teammate) so that the player can receive the pass without changing direction or losing speed.

Having an abundant supply of money or possessions of value; as, She was not merely rich but loaded.

To be first; be ahead.

Very drunk.

To go first as a guide.

Filled with a great quantity;

To act as commander, director, or guide.

(of weapons) charged with ammunition;

To afford a passage, course, or route

(of statements or questions) charged with associative significance and often meant to mislead or influence;

To tend toward a certain goal or result

Having an abundant supply of money or possessions of value;

To make the initial play, as in a game or contest.

Very drunk

To begin a presentation or account in a given way

To guide a dance partner.

To start a dance step on a specified foot.

(Baseball) To advance or stand a few paces away from one's base toward the next while the pitcher prepares to deliver a pitch. Used of a base runner.

(Sports) To begin an attack in boxing with a specified hand or punch

To cover, line, weight, or fill with lead.

(Printing) To provide space between (lines of type) with leads.

To secure (window glass) with leads.

To treat with lead or a lead compound

The first or foremost position

One occupying such a position; a leader.

The initiative

The margin by which one holds a position of advantage or superiority

Information pointing toward a possible solution; a clue

An indication of potential opportunity; a tip

Command; leadership

An example; a precedent

The principal role in a film, play, show, or other scripted production.

The person playing such a role.

The introductory portion of a news story, especially the first sentence.

An important, usually prominently displayed news story.

The first play.

The prerogative or turn to make the first play

A card played first in a round.

(Baseball) An amount of space that a base runner moves or stands away from one base in the direction of the next while the pitcher prepares to deliver a pitch.

(Sports) A blow in boxing that begins a series or exchange of punches.

A leash.

A deposit of gold ore in an old riverbed.

See lode.

(Electronics) A conductor by which one circuit element is electrically connected to another.

(Nautical) The direction in which a line runs.

The distance aimed in front of a moving target.

A channel of open water created by a break in a mass of ice.

A border or rim of lead, as around a windowpane.

(Printing) The spacing between lines, usually measured in points.

Symbol Pb A soft, malleable, ductile, bluish-white, dense metallic element, extracted chiefly from galena and used in containers and pipes for corrosives, solder and type metal, bullets, radiation shielding, paints, glass, storage batteries, and antiknock compounds. Atomic number 82; atomic weight 207.2; melting point 327.5°C; boiling point 1,749°C; specific gravity 11.35; valence 2, 4. See Periodic Table.

Any of various, often graphitic compositions used as the writing substance in pencils.

A thin stick of such material.

Bullets from or for firearms; shot

A lead weight suspended by a line, used to make soundings.

(Printing) A thin strip of metal used to separate lines of type.

Strips of lead used to hold the panes of a window.

Chiefly British A flat roof covered with sheets of lead.

Present participle of lead

Providing guidance or direction.

Ranking first.

Occurring in advance; preceding.

An act by which one is led or guided.

(archaic) Command of an army or military unit.

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

Guiding; directing; controlling; foremost; as, a leading motive; a leading man; a leading example.

The act of guiding, directing, governing, or enticing; guidance.

Suggestion; hint; example.

Thin strip of metal used to separate lines of type in printing

The activity of leading;

Indicating the most important performer or role;

Going or proceeding or going in advance; showing the way;

Greatest in importance or degree or significance or achievement;

Having the leading position or higher score in a contest;

Purposefully formulated to elicit a desired response;