(Spor) In baseball, to lead off, or to take a lead, refers to the position a baserunner takes just prior to a pitch, a short distance away from the base he occupies. A "lead" can also refer to that distance. A typical lead is six to ten feet (two to three meters) from the base. If the lead is too large, the runner risks being picked off. If the lead is too small, the runner has a disadvantage in reaching the next base, whether in a stolen base attempt or in connection with the next batted ball
If a door, room, or path leads off a place or leads off from a place, you can go directly from that place through that door, into that room, or along that path. There were two doors leading off the central room The treatment rooms lead off from the swimming pool A corridor led off to the left
If someone leads off in an activity, meeting, or conversation, they start it. Whenever there was a dance he and I led off Boren surprisingly led off the most intensive line of questioning today. = start off