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lead

Nautical
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

A weighted line with marks, cast overboard to measure water depth.

Detailed Definition
The lead line, or sounding line, is a tool of caution and knowledge, used to probe the unseen depths beneath the keel. In poetry, it symbolizes inquiry, prudence, and the attempt to fathom the unknown—whether it be the ocean floor, the human heart, or the divine will. The act of heaving the lead and calling out the depth becomes a ritual of vigilance, a dialogue between the surface and the abyss. Poets invoke it to suggest that we must sound our own depths before proceeding, and its marked intervals (by fathoms) remind us that even the invisible can be measured and named.
Example
Example in poetry:
The lead line in poetry symbolizes inquiry, prudence, and the attempt to fathom the unknown—whether ocean floor, human heart, or divine will.; The act of heaving the lead and calling out the depth becomes a ritual of vigilance.; Poets invoke the lead to suggest that we must sound our own depths before proceeding.; Its marked intervals (by fathoms) remind us that even the invisible can be measured and named.; The lead is a tool of caution and knowledge, used to probe unseen depths.; The lead line’s weighted end touches the bottom, bringing hidden truths to light.
Additional Notes
The lead is a weighted line used to measure the depth of water, a "sounding" line. In poetry, it symbolizes inquiry, prudence, and the act of probing the unknown—whether the ocean floor, the human heart, or the divine will. The ritual of heaving the lead and calling out the depth becomes a metaphor for vigilance and careful judgment. Poets use it to suggest that we must "sound" our own depths before proceeding in any endeavor. Its marked intervals (in fathoms) remind us that even the invisible can, with the right tool, be measured and known. The lead is a tool of caution, knowledge, and the relentless human desire to understand what lies beneath the surface.
Also Known As
Sounding lead lead line depth line Call the tune conduck
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