What is "to return a lead"

Return \Re*turn"\, v. t.

1. To bring, carry, send, or turn, back; as, to return a borrowed book, or a hired horse.

   Both fled attonce, ne ever back returned eye.
   --Spenser.

2. To repay; as, to return borrowed money.

3. To give in requital or recompense; to requite.

   The Lord shall return thy wickedness upon thine own head.
   --1 Kings ii. 4

4. 4. To give back in reply; as, to return an answer; to return thanks.

5. To retort; to throw back; as, to return the lie.

   If you are a malicious reader, you return upon me, that I affect to be thought more impartial than I am.
   --Dryden.

6. To report, or bring back and make known.

   And all the people answered together, . . . and Moses returned the words of the people unto the Lord.
   --Ex. xix. 8.

7. To render, as an account, usually an official account, to a superior; to report officially by a list or statement; as, to return a list of stores, of killed or wounded; to return the result of an election.

8. Hence, to elect according to the official report of the election officers. [Eng.]

9. To bring or send back to a tribunal, or to an office, with a certificate of what has been done; as, to return a writ.

10. To convey into official custody, or to a general depository.

    Instead of a ship, he should levy money, and return the same to the treasurer for his majesty's use.
    --Clarendon.

11. (Tennis) To bat (the ball) back over the net.

12. (Card Playing) To lead in response to the lead of one's partner; as, to return a trump; to return a diamond for a club.

    To return a lead (Card Playing), to lead the same suit led by one's partner.

    Syn: To restore; requite; repay; recompense; render; remit; report.