The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Leading \Lead"ing\, a.
   Guiding; directing; controlling; foremost; as, a leading
   motive; a leading man; a leading example. -- Lead"ing*ly,
   adv.
   [1913 Webster]

   Leading case (Law), a reported decision which has come to
      be regarded as settling the law of the question involved.
      --Abbott.

   Leading motive [a translation of G. leitmotif] (Mus.), a
      guiding theme; in the musical drama of Wagner, a marked
      melodic phrase or short passage which always accompanies
      the reappearance of a certain person, situation, abstract
      idea, or allusion in the course of the play; a sort of
      musical label. Also called leitmotif or leitmotiv.

   Leading note (Mus.), the seventh note or tone in the
      ascending major scale; the sensible note.

   Leading question, a question so framed as to guide the
      person questioned in making his reply.

   Leading strings, strings by which children are supported
      when beginning to walk.

   To be in leading strings, to be in a state of infancy or
      dependence, or under the guidance of others.

   Leading wheel, a wheel situated before the driving wheels
      of a locomotive engine.
      [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Question \Ques"tion\, n. [F., fr. L. quaestio, fr. quaerere,
   quaesitum, to seek for, ask, inquire. See Quest, n.]
   1. The act of asking; interrogation; inquiry; as, to examine
      by question and answer.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. Discussion; debate; hence, objection; dispute; doubt; as,
      the story is true beyond question; he obeyed without
      question.
      [1913 Webster]

            There arose a question between some of John's
            disciples and the Jews about purifying. -- John iii.
                                                  25.
      [1913 Webster]

            It is to be to question, whether it be lawful for
            Christian princes to make an invasive war simply for
            the propagation of the faith.         -- Bacon.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. Examination with reference to a decisive result;
      investigation; specifically, a judicial or official
      investigation; also, examination under torture.
      --Blackstone.
      [1913 Webster]

            He that was in question for the robbery. Shak.
            The Scottish privy council had power to put state
            prisoners to the question.            --Macaulay.
      [1913 Webster]

   4. That which is asked; inquiry; interrogatory; query.
      [1913 Webster]

            But this question asked
            Puts me in doubt. Lives there who loves his pain ?
                                                  --Milton.
      [1913 Webster]

   5. Hence, a subject of investigation, examination, or debate;
      theme of inquiry; matter to be inquired into; as, a
      delicate or doubtful question.
      [1913 Webster]

   6. Talk; conversation; speech; speech. [Obs.] --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

   In question, in debate; in the course of examination or
      discussion; as, the matter or point in question.

   Leading question. See under Leading.

   Out of question, unquestionably. "Out of question, 't is
      Maria's hand." --Shak.

   Out of the question. See under Out.

   Past question, beyond question; certainly; undoubtedly;
      unquestionably.

   Previous question, a question put to a parliamentary
      assembly upon the motion of a member, in order to
      ascertain whether it is the will of the body to vote at
      once, without further debate, on the subject under
      consideration.

   Note: The form of the question is: "Shall the main question
         be now put?" If the vote is in the affirmative, the
         matter before the body must be voted upon as it then
         stands, without further general debate or the
         submission of new amendments. In the House of
         Representatives of the United States, and generally in
         America, a negative decision operates to keep the
         business before the body as if the motion had not been
         made; but in the English Parliament, it operates to
         postpone consideration for the day, and until the
         subject may be again introduced. In American practice,
         the object of the motion is to hasten action, and it is
         made by a friend of the measure. In English practice,
         the object is to get rid of the subject for the time
         being, and the motion is made with a purpose of voting
         against it. --Cushing.

   To beg the question. See under Beg.

   To the question, to the point in dispute; to the real
      matter under debate.
      [1913 Webster]

   Syn: Point; topic; subject.
        [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

leading question
    n 1: a question phrased in such a way as to suggest the desired
         answer; a lawyer may ask leading questions on cross-
         examination

Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856):

LEADING QUESTION, evidence, Practice. A question which puts into the
witness' mouth the words to be echoed back, or plainly suggests the answer
which the party wishes to get from him. 7 Serg. & Rawle, 171; 4 Wend. Rep.
247. In that case the examiner is said to lead him to the answer. It is not
always easy to determine what is or is not a leading question.
     2. These questions cannot, in general, be put to a witness in his
examination in chief. 6 Binn. R. 483, 3 Binn. R. 130; 1 Phill. Ev. 221; 1
Stark. Ev. 123. But in an examination in chief, questions may be put to lead
the mind of the witness to the subject of inquiry; and they are allowed when
it appears the witness wishes to conceal the truth, or to favor the opposite
party, or where, from the nature of the case, the mind of the witness cannot
be directed to the subject of inquiry, without a particular specification of
such subject. 1 Camp. R. 43; 1 Stark. C. 100.
     3. In cross-examinations, the examiner has generally the right to put
leading questions. 1 Stark. Ev. 132; 3 Chit. Pr. 892; Rosc. Civ. Ev. 94; 3
Bouv. Inst. n. 3203-4.