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Reference vs Leading - What's the difference?

reference | leading |

As a verb leading is

.

As an adjective leading is

providing guidance or direction.

As a noun leading is

an act by which one is led or guided or leading can be (typography) vertical space added between lines; line spacing.

reference

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • A relationship or relation ((to) something).
  • *, III.1.3:
    • all these are far more eminent and great, when they shall proceed from a sanctified spirit, that hath a true touch of religion and a reference to God.
  • A measurement one can compare to.
  • Information about a person, provided by someone (a referee) with whom they are well acquainted
  • A reference work.
  • (semantics) A relation between objects in which one object designates, or acts as a means by which to connect to or link to, another object.
  • (academic writing) A short written identification of a previously published work which is used as a source for a text.
  • (academic writing) A previously published written work thus indicated; a source.
  • (programming) An object containing information which refers to data stored elsewhere, as opposed to containing the data itself.
  • (programming, character entity) A special sequence used to represent complex characters in a web page such as ™ or €.
  • (obsolete) appeal
  • * Shakespeare
    • Make your full reference .

    Derived terms

    * * * * * * * *

    See also

    * sense

    Verb

    (referenc)
  • to refer to, to make reference to, to cite
    • Reference the dictionary for word meanings.
  • to mention

    • Usage notes

    * Some authorities object to the use of reference as a verb, preferring "refer to" or "cite".

    Related terms

    * referee * referent * referential

    External links

    * * English transitive verbs

    leading

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) .

    Verb

    (head)
  • *
    • , title=(The Celebrity), chapter=2 , passage=I had occasion […] to make a somewhat long business trip to Chicago, and on my return […] I found Farrar awaiting me in the railway station. He smiled his wonted fraction by way of greeting, […], and finally leading me to his buggy, turned and drove out of town.}}

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Providing guidance or direction.
    • Avoiding leading questions if you really want the truth.
  • Ranking first.
    • He is a leading supplier of plumbing supplies in the county.
  • Occurring in advance; preceding.
    • The stock market can be a leading economic indicator.
    Coordinate terms
    * (occurring in advance) concurrent, lagging
    Derived terms
    * leading indicator

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • An act by which one is led or guided
  • * {{quote-book, year=1792, author=William Carey, title=An Enquiry into the Obligations of Christians to Use Means for the, chapter=, edition= citation
    • , passage=It has been said that we ought not to force our way, but to wait for the openings, and leadings of Providence; but it might with equal propriety be answered in this case, neither ought we to neglect embracing those openings in providence which daily present themselves to us. }}
  • * {{quote-book, year=1855, author=Walt Whitman, title=Leaves of Grass, chapter=, edition= citation
    • , passage=
  • * {{quote-book, year=1904, author=Edward Dowden, title=Robert Browning, chapter=, edition= citation
    • , passage=In his poetic method each writer followed the leadings of his own genius, without reference to common rules and standards; the individualism of the Revolutionary epoch asserted itself to the full. }}

    Etymology 2

    From lead (chemical element).

    Noun

    (wikipedia leading) (-)
  • (typography) Vertical space added between lines; line spacing

    • Anagrams

    *