What is "lead off"

n. 1 (context baseball English) The first batter in the batting order. 2 (context baseball English) The first batter of an inning. vb. (context baseball English) To be the first batter of an inning.

1. v. teach immoral behavior to; "It was common practice to lead off the young ones, and teach them bad habits" [syn: lead astray]

2. set in motion, cause to start; "The U.S. started a war in the Middle East"; "The Iraqis began hostilities"; "begin a new chapter in your life" [syn: begin, start, commence] [ant: end]

In baseball, a lead or lead off is the short distance that a player stands away from their current base. The "leadoff hitter" is the first batter in the batting line-up for his team, or the first batter of an inning or a game.