Adjective
1. indicating the most important performer or role;
"the leading man""prima ballerina""prima donna""a star figure skater""the starring role""a stellar role""a stellar performance"2. going or proceeding or going in advance; showing the way;
"we rode in the leading car""the leading edge of technology"3. greatest in importance or degree or significance or achievement;
"our greatest statesmen""the country's leading poet""a preeminent archeologist"4. having the leading position or higher score in a contest;
"he is ahead by a pawn""the leading team in the pennant race"5. purposefully formulated to elicit a desired response;
"a leading question"