spearhead

American  

[speer-hed] / ˈspɪərˌhɛd /

noun

1. the sharp-pointed head that forms the piercing end of a spear.

2. any person, contingent, or force that leads an attack, undertaking, etc..

   Cuba was the spearhead of the independence movement within Latin America.

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verb (used with object)

1. to lead or initiate (an undertaking).

   She is spearheading an ambitious research project whose results may be used by NASA.

   Synonyms:

   pioneer, initiate, start, lead

spearhead British  

/ ˈspɪəˌhɛd /

noun

1. the pointed head of a spear

2. the leading force in a military attack

3. any person or thing that leads or initiates an attack, a campaign, etc

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verb

1. (tr) to lead or initiate (an attack, a campaign, etc)

Etymology

Origin of spearhead

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English; spear ¹, head

Example Sentences

Private Ukrainian arms companies have spearheaded the developement of drone interceptors -- cheap, light single-use drones that are designed to knock Russian unmanned aerial vehicles out of the sky.

From Barron's

Jimmy Reid spearheaded a successful campaign against the closure of the Upper Clyde Shipbuilders in 1971.

From BBC

He said that businessman and financier Laurance Rockefeller spearheaded an effort to get government files about UFOs declassified under Bill Clinton's presidency.

From BBC

He spearheaded the concept of “secondary sanctions” to penalize even non-U.S. firms for doing business with the regime, angering Europe.

From The Wall Street Journal

“It’s an incredibly complex project,” said Alicia Glen, who helped spearhead the project under Mayor Bill de Blasio and now runs her own development firm.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• initiate
• launch
• prompt
• spur