Led Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster
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led
1 of 2 Synonyms of ledpast tense and past participle of lead
LED
2 of 2noun
ˌel-(ˌ)ē-ˈdē plural LEDs : a semiconductor diode that emits light when a voltage is applied to it and that is used especially in electronic devices (as for an indicator light)Did you know?
When to Use Lead or Led
There is some persistent confusion about lead and led . Or, we should say, there is confusion about the leads and led . Lead is both a noun and a verb, as most people know. There are several unrelated nouns spelled lead : one most commonly refers to a metal (as in, "The paint was made with lead"), and the other most commonly refers to a position of advantage (as in, "Our team was in the lead"). The verb lead is pronounced /LEED/, with a long e ; the noun that refers to a position or advantage is also pronounced /LEED/, with a long e ; the noun that refers to the metal, however, is pronounced /LED/, with a short e . To this moderately convoluted situation, add the past tense and past participle of the verb lead , which is led and pronounced like the metal noun lead with a short e . The homophonic confusion leads to homographic confusion, and you will therefore occasionally see lead in constructions where led is called for (as in, “She lead the ducklings to safety” instead of “She led the ducklings to safety”). The correct past and past participle of lead is spelled led . If you aren’t sure whether to use led or lead as the verb in your sentence, try reading it aloud to yourself. If the verb is pronounced /LED/, use led .
Examples of led in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web Noun The smart glasses have already reportedly led to a college football spy scandal, and reviews describe the LED light indicating the camera is on as a gentle white light that’s easily overlooked in broad daylight. Lindsey Choo, Forbes , 4 Oct. 2024 The facility will boast over 2,000 sq. meter (21,500 sq. feet) of set space equipped with LED technology and state-of-the-art computer and processing chain, Georgina Terán, EFD Studios CEO, announced at the Iberseries & Platino Industria industry forum in Madrid. John Hopewell, Variety , 4 Oct. 2024 Position these tissue paper flames around the LED light strip to create the appearance of flames. Maryal Miller Carter, USA TODAY , 22 Sep. 2024 Unlike microcurrent devices, which lift and tone facial muscles, or LED treatments, which focus on skin health and collagen production for reducing fine lines and wrinkles, RF is primarily about tightening the skin and maintaining volume while boosting collagen production. Iman Balagam, Vogue , 14 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for ledThese examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'led.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
EtymologyNoun
l ight- e mitting d iode
First Known UseNoun
1968, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler The first known use of led was in 1968 See more words from the same yearArticles Related to led
Led vs. Lead
Dictionary Entries Near led
lecythus
led
LED
See More Nearby EntriesCite this Entry
Style MLA Chicago APA Merriam-Webster“Led.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/led. Accessed 13 Oct. 2024.
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led
1 of 2past and past participle of lead
LED
2 of 2 noun ˌel-ˌē-ˈdē : an electronic device that emits light when a voltage is applied to it EtymologyNoun
l ight- e mitting d iode
Legal Definition
led
past and past participle of lead
More from Merriam-Webster on led
Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for led
Nglish: Translation of led for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of led for Arabic Speakers
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