leading edge

noun

ˈlē-diŋ- 

1

: the forward part of something that moves or seems to move

2

: the foremost edge of an airfoil

3

: cutting edge

leading-edge

ˈlē-diŋ-ˈej 

adjective

Synonyms

• cutting edge
• forefront
• front line
• van
• vanguard

Examples of leading edge in a Sentence

the leading edge of an airplane's wing

the leading edge of a thunderstorm

Recent Examples on the Web

In the 1990s, promoter and bar owner Wanda Acosta’s Sunday-afternoon party at East Ninth Street’s Café Tabac brought glamor, models, and sometimes Madonna to the scene and was the East Coast’s leading edge of what became known as lesbian chic. —Architectural Digest, 28 June 2024

The leading edge of storminess should reach the Interstate 95 corridor by 10 p.m. 5:22 p.m. — first round of storms passing by The Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm warning that includes La Plata, Waldorf, Brandywine and surrounding locations. —Jeff Halverson, Washington Post, 26 June 2024

Instead, Intel is waging a heroic effort to regain its place as the world’s preeminent maker of leading edge chips. —Bygeoff Colvin, Fortune, 20 June 2024

Detroit is on the leading edge of a national trend. —Marin Cogan, Vox, 1 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1877, in the meaning defined at sense 1