Leed vs. Lead: What's the Difference?
Edited by Aimie Carlson || By Janet White || Updated on October 8, 2023
Leed refers to a green building certification; Lead can mean to guide, go ahead, or the chemical element Pb.
Key Differences
Leed is an acronym that stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. It's a green building certification system used globally, ensuring that buildings are designed and built using strategies that improve environmental performance. On the other hand, Lead has multiple meanings: it can refer to the act of guiding or directing, being in charge, or even the chemical element with the symbol Pb.
Leed provides a framework for creating efficient, green buildings, offering several certification levels depending on the sustainability features included in the project. Conversely, Lead, when used as a verb, means to guide or be in the forefront, like leading a team or a movement.
Leed primarily focuses on sustainable construction and has become a symbol of environmental responsibility and innovation. Lead, as a noun, refers to a type of soft, malleable metal that has been used for various purposes historically but is now known to be toxic and is limited in its uses, especially in consumer products.
Leed certifications are earned by projects that meet specific criteria and achieve points in various environmental categories. In contrast, Lead, in the context of a position or role, refers to someone or something that has a primary or dominant position, as in leading a race or leading a market segment.
Comparison Chart
Definition
Green building certification
Guide, go ahead, or element Pb
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Usage
Pertains to sustainable construction
Refers to guidance or a metal
Type
Acronym
Word with multiple meanings
Primary Context
Environmental performance
Direction, position, or chemistry
Associated Field
Construction and architecture
Various, from leadership to science
Leed and Lead Definitions
Leed
A green building certification system.
The new office building achieved Leed Platinum status.
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Lead
To inspire the conduct of
Led the nation in its crisis.
Leed
A guideline for environmentally responsible buildings.
The city promotes the adoption of Leed standards in public buildings.
Lead
To show the way to by going in advance
The host led us to our table.
Leed
A measure of a building's environmental performance.
Achieving high Leed scores is a priority for the construction team.
Lead
To guide or direct in a course
Lead a horse by the halter.
Leed
A standard for sustainable construction.
Developers are aiming for Leed certification for their project.
Lead
To serve as a route for; take
The path led them to a cemetery.
Leed
Language; tongue.
Lead
To be a channel or conduit for (water or electricity, for example).
Leed
A national tongue (in contrast to a foreign language).
Lead
To guide the behavior or opinion of; induce
Led us to believe otherwise.
Leed
The speech of a person or class of persons; form of speech; talk; utterance; manner of speaking or writing; phraseology; diction.
Lead
To direct the performance or activities of
Lead an orchestra.
Leed
A strain in a rhyme, song, or poem; refrain; flow.
Lead
To play a principal or guiding role in
Lead a discussion.
Led the antiwar movement.
Leed
A constant or repeated line or verse; theme.
Lead
To go or be at the head of
The queen led the procession. My name led the list.
Leed
Patter; rigmarole.
Lead
To be ahead of
Led the runner-up by three strides.
Leed
(obsolete) lede
Lead
To be foremost in or among
Led the field in nuclear research.
Led her teammates in free throws.
Leed
Obsolete spelling of lead.
Lead
To pass or go through; live
Lead an independent life.
Leed
A caldron; a copper kettle.
Lead
To begin or open with, as in games
Led an ace.
Leed
A benchmark for eco-friendly construction practices.
The residential complex was designed according to Leed guidelines.
Lead
To guide (a partner) in dancing.
Lead
To aim in front of (a moving target).
Lead
(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.
Lead
To be first; be ahead.
Lead
To go first as a guide.
Lead
To act as commander, director, or guide.
Lead
To afford a passage, course, or route
A road that leads over the mountains.
A door leading to the pantry.
Lead
To tend toward a certain goal or result
A remark that led to further discussion.
Policies that led to disaster.
Lead
To make the initial play, as in a game or contest.
Lead
To begin a presentation or account in a given way
The announcer led with the day's top stories.
Lead
To guide a dance partner.
Lead
To start a dance step on a specified foot.
Lead
(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.
Lead
(Sports) To begin an attack in boxing with a specified hand or punch
Led with a right to the body.
Lead
To cover, line, weight, or fill with lead.
Lead
(Printing) To provide space between (lines of type) with leads.
Lead
To secure (window glass) with leads.
Lead
To treat with lead or a lead compound
Leaded gasoline.
Leaded paint.
Lead
The first or foremost position
A racer in the lead.
Lead
One occupying such a position; a leader.
Lead
The initiative
Took the lead in setting the pace of the project.
Lead
The margin by which one holds a position of advantage or superiority
Held a lead of nine points at the half.
Lead
Information pointing toward a possible solution; a clue
Followed a promising lead in the murder case.
Lead
An indication of potential opportunity; a tip
A good lead for a job.
Lead
Command; leadership
Took over the lead of the company.
Lead
An example; a precedent
Followed his sister's lead in running for office.
Lead
The principal role in a film, play, show, or other scripted production.
Lead
The person playing such a role.
Lead
The introductory portion of a news story, especially the first sentence.
Lead
An important, usually prominently displayed news story.
Lead
The first play.
Lead
The prerogative or turn to make the first play
The lead passes to the player on the left.
Lead
A card played first in a round.
Lead
(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.
Lead
(Sports) A blow in boxing that begins a series or exchange of punches.
Lead
A leash.
Lead
A deposit of gold ore in an old riverbed.
Lead
See lode.
Lead
(Electronics) A conductor by which one circuit element is electrically connected to another.
Lead
(Nautical) The direction in which a line runs.
Lead
The distance aimed in front of a moving target.
Lead
A channel of open water created by a break in a mass of ice.
Lead
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.
Lead
Any of various, often graphitic compositions used as the writing substance in pencils.
Lead
A thin stick of such material.
Lead
Bullets from or for firearms; shot
Pumped the target full of lead.
Lead
A lead weight suspended by a line, used to make soundings.
Lead
(Printing) A thin strip of metal used to separate lines of type.
Lead
Strips of lead used to hold the panes of a window.
Lead
Chiefly British A flat roof covered with sheets of lead.
Lead
First or foremost
The lead leg on a surfboard.
Lead
Most important
The lead author of a research paper.
Lead
(uncountable) A heavy, pliable, inelastic metal element, having a bright, bluish color, but easily tarnished; both malleable and ductile, though with little tenacity. It is easily fusible, forms alloys with other metals, and is an ingredient of solder and type metal. Atomic number 82, symbol Pb (from Latin plumbum).
Lead
A plummet or mass of lead attached to a line, used in sounding depth at sea or (dated) to estimate velocity in knots.
Lead
A thin strip of type metal, used to separate lines of type in printing.
Lead
Vertical space in advance of a row or between rows of text. Also known as leading.
This copy has too much lead; I prefer less space between the lines.
Lead
Sheets or plates of lead used as a covering for roofs.
Lead
(plural leads) A roof covered with lead sheets or terne plates.
Lead
(countable) A thin cylinder of graphite used in pencils. Category:en:Carbon
Lead
(slang) bullets; ammunition.
They pumped him full of lead.
Lead
(countable) The act of leading or conducting; guidance; direction, course
To take the lead
To be under the lead of another
Lead
(countable) Precedence; advance position; also, the measure of precedence; the state of being ahead in a race; the highest score in a game in an incomplete game.
The white horse had the lead.
To be in the lead
She lost the lead.
Smith managed to extend her lead over the second place to half a second.
Lead
An insulated metallic wire for electrical devices and equipment.
Lead
(baseball) The situation where a runner steps away from a base while waiting for the pitch to be thrown.
The runner took his lead from first.
Lead
The act or right of playing first in a game or round; the card suit, or piece, so played
Your partner has the lead
Lead
The main role in a play or film; the lead role.
Lead
(acting) The actor who plays the main role; lead actor.
Lead
(business) The person in charge of a project or a work shift etc.
John is the development lead on this software product.
Lead
(countable) A channel of open water in an ice field.
Lead
A lode.
Lead
(nautical) The course of a rope from end to end.
Lead
A rope, leather strap, or similar device with which to lead an animal; a leash
Lead
In a steam engine, the width of port opening which is uncovered by the valve, for the admission or release of steam, at the instant when the piston is at end of its stroke.
Lead
(civil engineering) The distance of haul, as from a cutting to an embankment.
Lead
(horology) The action of a tooth, such as a tooth of a wheel, in impelling another tooth or a pallet.
Lead
Hypothesis that has not been pursued
The investigation stalled when all leads turned out to be dead ends.
Lead
Information obtained by a detective or police officer that allows him or her to discover further details about a crime or incident.
The police have a couple of leads they will follow to solve the case.
Lead
(marketing) Potential opportunity for a sale or transaction, a potential customer.
Joe is a great addition to our sales team, he has numerous leads in the paper industry.
Lead
Information obtained by a news reporter about an issue or subject that allows him or her to discover more details.
Lead
(curling) The player who throws the first two rocks for a team.
Lead
(newspapers) A teaser; a lead-in; the start of a newspaper column, telling who, what, when, where, why and how. (Sometimes spelled as lede for this usage to avoid ambiguity.)
Lead
An important news story that appears on the front page of a newspaper or at the beginning of a news broadcast
Lead
(engineering) The axial distance a screw thread travels in one revolution. It is equal to the pitch times the number of starts.
Lead
(music) In a barbershop quartet, the person who sings the melody, usually the second tenor
Lead
(music) The announcement by one voice part of a theme to be repeated by the other parts.
Lead
(music) A mark or a short passage in one voice part, as of a canon, serving as a cue for the entrance of others.
Lead
(engineering) The excess above a right angle in the angle between two consecutive cranks, as of a compound engine, on the same shaft.
Lead
(electrical) The angle between the line joining the brushes of a continuous-current dynamo and the diameter symmetrical between the poles.
Lead
(electrical) The advance of the current phase in an alternating circuit beyond that of the electromotive force producing it.
Lead
(transitive) To cover, fill, or affect with lead.
Continuous firing leads the grooves of a rifle.
Lead
To place leads between the lines of.
To lead a page
Leaded matter
Lead
To guide or conduct.
Lead
To guide or conduct with the hand, or by means of some physical contact connection.
A father leads a child
A jockey leads a horse with a halter
A dog leads a blind man
Lead
To guide or conduct in a certain course, or to a certain place or end, by making the way known; to show the way, especially by going with or going in advance of, to lead a pupil; to guide somebody somewhere or to bring somebody somewhere by means of instructions.
The guide was able to lead the tourists through the jungle safely.
Lead
(figuratively): To direct; to counsel; to instruct
A good teacher should lead their students to the right answer.
Lead
To conduct or direct with authority; to have direction or charge of; to command, especially a military or business unit.
To lead a political party
To lead the search team
Lead
To guide or conduct oneself in, through, or along (a certain course); hence, to proceed in the way of; to follow the path or course of; to pass; to spend. Also, to cause (one) to proceed or follow in (a certain course).
The evidence leads me to believe he is guilty.
Lead
(intransitive) To guide or conduct, as by accompanying, going before, showing, influencing, directing with authority, etc.; to have precedence or preeminence; to be first or chief; — used in most of the senses of the transitive verb.
Lead
(heading) To begin, to be ahead.
Lead
(transitive) To go or to be in advance of; to precede; hence, to be foremost or chief among.
The big sloop led the fleet of yachts;
The Guards led the attack;
Demosthenes leads the orators of all ages
Lead
(intransitive) To lead off or out, to go first; to begin.
Lead
(intransitive) To be more advanced in technology or business than others.
Lead
(transitive) To draw or direct by influence, whether good or bad; to prevail on; to induce; to entice; to allure
To lead someone to a righteous cause
Lead
(intransitive) To tend or reach in a certain direction, or to a certain place.
The path leads to the mill;
Gambling leads to other vices
Lead
To produce (with to).
The shock led to a change in his behaviour.
Lead
Misspelling of led
Lead
(transitive) To live or experience (a particular way of life).
Lead
(not comparable) Foremost.
The contestants are all tied; no one has the lead position.
Lead
Main, principal, primary, first, chief, foremost.
The lead guitarist in band
The lead developer on a software project
Lead
One of the elements, a heavy, pliable, inelastic metal, having a bright, bluish color, but easily tarnished. It is both malleable and ductile, though with little tenacity, and is used for tubes, sheets, bullets, etc. Its specific gravity is 11.37. It is easily fusible (melting point 327.5° C), forms alloys with other metals, and is an ingredient of solder and type metal. Atomic number 82. Atomic weight, 207.2. Symbol Pb (L. Plumbum). It is chiefly obtained from the mineral galena, lead sulphide.
Lead
An article made of lead or an alloy of lead
I would have the tower two stories, and goodly leads upon the top.
Lead
A small cylinder of black lead or graphite, used in pencils.
Lead
The act of leading or conducting; guidance; direction; as, to take the lead; to be under the lead of another.
At the time I speak of, and having a momentary lead, . . . I am sure I did my country important service.
Lead
Precedence; advance position; also, the measure of precedence; as, the white horse had the lead; a lead of a boat's length, or of half a second.
Lead
The act or right of playing first in a game or round; the card suit, or piece, so played; as, your partner has the lead.
Lead
An open way in an ice field.
Lead
A lode.
Lead
The course of a rope from end to end.
Lead
The width of port opening which is uncovered by the valve, for the admission or release of steam, at the instant when the piston is at end of its stroke.
Lead
The distance of haul, as from a cutting to an embankment.
Lead
The action of a tooth, as a tooth of a wheel, in impelling another tooth or a pallet.
Lead
The announcement by one voice part of a theme to be repeated by the other parts.
Lead
In an internal-combustion engine, the distance, measured in actual length of piston stroke or the corresponding angular displacement of the crank, of the piston from the end of the compression stroke when ignition takes place; - called in full lead of the ignition. When ignition takes place during the working stroke the corresponding distance from the commencement of the stroke is called negative lead.
Lead
The excess above a right angle in the angle between two consecutive cranks, as of a compound engine, on the same shaft.
Lead
In spiral screw threads, worm wheels, or the like, the amount of advance of any point in the spiral for a complete turn.
Lead
The angle between the line joining the brushes of a continuous-current dynamo and the diameter symmetrical between the poles.
Lead
A role for a leading man or leading woman; also, one who plays such a role.
Lead
The first story in a newspaper or broadcast news program.
Lead
An electrical conductor, typically as an insulated wire or cable, connecting an electrical device to another device or to a power source, such as a conductor conveying electricity from a dynamo.
Lead
The distance a runner on base advances from one base toward the next before the pitch; as, the long lead he usually takes tends to distract the pitchers.
Lead
To cover, fill, or affect with lead; as, continuous firing leads the grooves of a rifle.
Lead
To place leads between the lines of; as, to lead a page; leaded matter.
Lead
To guide or conduct with the hand, or by means of some physical contact or connection; as, a father leads a child; a jockey leads a horse with a halter; a dog leads a blind man.
If a blind man lead a blind man, both fall down in the ditch.
They thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill.
In thy right hand lead with theeThe mountain nymph, sweet Liberty.
Lead
To guide or conduct in a certain course, or to a certain place or end, by making the way known; to show the way, esp. by going with or going in advance of.
The Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way.
He leadeth me beside the still waters.
This thought might lead me through the world's vain mask.Content, though blind, had I no better guide.
Lead
To conduct or direct with authority; to have direction or charge of; as, to lead an army, an exploring party, or a search; to lead a political party.
Christ took not upon him flesh and blood that he might conquer and rule nations, lead armies, or possess places.
Lead
To go or to be in advance of; to precede; hence, to be foremost or chief among; as, the big sloop led the fleet of yachts; the Guards led the attack; Demosthenes leads the orators of all ages.
As Hesperus, that leads the sun his way.
And lo ! Ben Adhem's name led all the rest.
Lead
To draw or direct by influence, whether good or bad; to prevail on; to induce; to entice; to allure; as, to lead one to espouse a righteous cause.
He was driven by the necessities of the times, more than led by his own disposition, to any rigor of actions.
Silly women, laden with sins, led away by divers lusts.
Lead
To guide or conduct one's self in, through, or along (a certain course); hence, to proceed in the way of; to follow the path or course of; to pass; to spend. Also, to cause (one) to proceed or follow in (a certain course).
That we may lead a quiet and peaceable life.
Nor thou with shadowed hint confuseA life that leads melodious days.
You remember . . . the life he used to lead his wife and daughter.
Lead
To begin a game, round, or trick, with; as, to lead trumps; the double five was led.
Lead
To tend or reach in a certain direction, or to a certain place; as, the path leads to the mill; gambling leads to other vices.
The mountain foot that leads towards Mantua.
Lead
A soft heavy toxic malleable metallic element; bluish white when freshly cut but tarnishes readily to dull gray;
The children were playing with lead soldiers
Lead
An advantage held by a competitor in a race;
He took the lead at the last turn
Lead
Evidence pointing to a possible solution;
The police are following a promising lead
The trail led straight to the perpetrator
Lead
A position of leadership (especially in the phrase `take the lead');
He takes the lead in any group
We were just waiting for someone to take the lead
They didn't follow our lead
Lead
The angle between the direction a gun is aimed and the position of a moving target (correcting for the flight time of the missile)
Lead
The introductory section of a story;
It was an amusing lead-in to a very serious matter
Lead
An actor who plays a principal role
Lead
(baseball) the position taken by a base runner preparing to advance to the next base;
He took a long lead off first
Lead
An indication of potential opportunity;
He got a tip on the stock market
A good lead for a job
Lead
A news story of major importance
Lead
The timing of ignition relative to the position of the piston in an internal-combustion engine
Lead
Restraint consisting of a rope (or light chain) used to restrain an animal
Lead
Thin strip of metal used to separate lines of type in printing
Lead
Mixture of graphite with clay in different degrees of hardness; the marking substance in a pencil
Lead
A jumper that consists of a short piece of wire;
It was a tangle of jumper cables and clip leads
Lead
The playing of a card to start a trick in bridge;
The lead was in the dummy
Lead
Take somebody somewhere;
We lead him to our chief
Can you take me to the main entrance?
He conducted us to the palace
Lead
Result in;
The water left a mark on the silk dress
Her blood left a stain on the napkin
Lead
Tend to or result in;
This remark lead to further arguments among the guests
Lead
Travel in front of; go in advance of others;
The procession was headed by John
Lead
Cause to undertake a certain action;
Her greed led her to forge the checks
Lead
Stretch out over a distance, space, time, or scope; run or extend between two points or beyond a certain point;
Service runs all the way to Cranbury
His knowledge doesn't go very far
My memory extends back to my fourth year of life
The facts extend beyond a consideration of her personal assets
Lead
Be in charge of;
Who is heading this project?
Lead
Be ahead of others; be the first;
She topped her class every year
Lead
Be conducive to;
The use of computers in the classroom lead to better writing
Lead
Lead, as in the performance of a composition;
Conduct an orchestra; Bairenboim conducted the Chicago symphony for years
Lead
Pass or spend;
Lead a good life
Lead
Lead, extend, or afford access;
This door goes to the basement
The road runs South
Lead
Move ahead (of others) in time or space
Lead
Cause something to pass or lead somewhere;
Run the wire behind the cabinet
Lead
Preside over;
John moderated the discussion
Lead
To guide or direct.
She will lead the team to victory.
Lead
The chemical element with the symbol Pb.
Lead is toxic when ingested.
Lead
To be in a primary position.
He took the lead in the race.
Lead
A clue or piece of information.
The detective followed the lead to solve the case.
Lead
A type of soft, malleable metal.
The old house had lead pipes.
FAQs
What does Leed stand for?
Leed stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.
Who oversees the Leed certification process?
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) oversees it.
What does Lead commonly refer to?
Lead can refer to guiding, a dominant position, or the chemical element Pb.
How does a building achieve Leed status?
It earns points by meeting specific environmental and sustainability criteria.
Is lead in paints safe?
No, lead in paints is toxic and is banned in many countries.
Can any building apply for Leed certification?
Yes, various building types can apply, but they must meet specific criteria.
Are all forms of Lead harmful?
While lead, the metal, is toxic, not all meanings of the word "lead" are harmful.
Why is Leed certification important?
It signifies a commitment to environmental sustainability and efficient design.
Are there different levels of Leed certification?
Yes, including Certified, Silver, Gold, and Platinum.
Can the word "lead" refer to being in front in a race?
Yes, it can mean being in a primary or dominant position.
Is the word "lead" related to leadership?
Yes, to "lead" can mean to guide or be in charge, related to leadership.
What's the primary focus of Leed?
Its focus is on sustainable construction and environmental performance.
Does "lead" have multiple pronunciations?
Yes, it can be pronounced like "leed" when referring to being in charge and "led" for the metal.
What's the meaning of "following someone's lead"?
It means to emulate or take guidance from someone's actions or decisions.
What benefits does Leed certification offer?
It offers environmental benefits and can lead to energy and cost savings.
Is Leed a global standard?
While it started in the U.S., Leed is now recognized and used globally.
How was Lead historically used?
Historically, it was used in products like pipes, paints, and gasoline.
How is Lead harmful to health?
Lead exposure can lead to neurological and developmental problems, especially in children.
How is Leed certification evaluated?
It's based on points earned in various environmental categories.
Can "lead" mean a clue in an investigation?
Yes, a "lead" can be a piece of information or clue.
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Aimie CarlsonAimie Carlson, holding a master's degree in English literature, is a fervent English language enthusiast. She lends her writing talents to Difference Wiki, a prominent website that specializes in comparisons, offering readers insightful analyses that both captivate and inform.
