A lead is an anonymous blue face 

Versus a referral which is a full profile with a headshot.

A lead to me is anyone that might have an interest in real estate selling or buying. It is up to us to develop this lead and be the agent selected when the time comes.

Anyone who has given up some point of contact to me whom I don't know. The more difficult question is what is a hot lead, a warm lead, a cold lead, or a dead lead?(Anonymous leads I would consider a pretty cold or dead lead.)

Many types and qualities of leads, and the quality of your approach to them is equally important.

Someone who wants to buy or sell real estate - preferably with you.

Another ditto to what Debbie Reynolds said - leads are even referrals, and how you 'rate' them does depend upon the stage they are in the buying/selling process. (Hot, warm, cold, active, buyer, seller, etc.)

Someone that can fog a mirror & has a house to sell or a prequalification in hand.

Anyone who reaches out to me for real estate...what happens next is very important and defines the relationship.    

If you have a name and number or email address, it's a lead.

We call anyone who reaches out to us as a lead, but i do not like the word. In any case, no matter how you call them, if you have a legit phone number or/and email, you can consider it a lead:) 

A lead is anyone who fills out a form or gives any type of information, such as the examples you gave.  Where the real trick or art exists, is classifying those leads into cold, medium and hot.  For me, hot is someone ready to list or buy within the next 3 months.  Someone I can start working with TODAY!  A medium lead is someone 3-6 months out and a cold lead (and not work working to me) is anyone more than 6 months out or is "just curious".

What you do with each lead and if/how you nurture them is up to you.  To me, 99-100% of paid leads (zillow, realtor.com, random no-name companies that call you) are in the cold lead/just curious category.  That's why I don't bother wasting $$$ on them.

Someone who may have interest in buying or selling now or in the future and with whom we have some way to contact them to follow up. -Kasey

Same as a touch for us. Only moves to our sphere when there is positive interaction with a commitment to moving forward

Someone to work with - to swoon - to engage and win their business. It is NOT what the Z company sells. Be clear on that.

It's a very heavy metal that, when ingested, can cause brain damage-amage-amage.

A lead for us is someone who is ready, willing and able to buy a home or anything else. A

I'm with Debbie Reynolds and Michael Jacobs on their answers.

For me it is any person that in some way has touched any portion of my marketing and has provided a means of contact.

However, what a more appropriate question would be - "How do you define a qualified lead" since not all leads are qualified or interested in buying or selling!

A person of interest.

A lead is ANYONE you can contact directly. They may be a member of the blue man group or could have revealed relevant data. They are different for every stranger on the plant because you have a perceived communication channel.

The process is the turn this lead into a prospect, one who has actually responded to an offer, opportunity or promotion.

Prospects fall into 3 categories based on the message to with they responded and HOW they responded.

Prospects become clients when they have committed to an offer, sent in their money, or pledged allegiance to the NAR and it surrogates.

A lead is a potential client.  They have expressed interest in real estate through either registering on a website, asking a question about real estate, or responding to a marketing piece you have done.  All leads need to be nurtured and touched regularly for them to actually turn into buyers and sellers you can work with.

Someone that wants me to find them a home or sell their home

      Anyone who contacts me regarding real estate brokerage.  Qualify the lead, contact them if they appear to be viable, then qualify them some more. 

a lead is a name and any type of contact information.... that's a lead...

A prospective home buyer or home seller.

Anyone who makes contact with you is a lead. However, a lead doesn't mean much until it is converted to a prospect. A prospect isn't much until it is converted into a client. A client isn't much until it is converted into a successful transaction and closes.

A lead is as an opportunity to offer your services to them. The KEY is if they are a good lead or a bad lead and most important is if you can convert that lead to a client. I would take 1 good lead over a 100 worthless ones anyday

Ready, Wiling , Able , NOW

Interesting question and answers. 

No idea.

A l;ead is someone inquiring about buying or selling property.

I think that lead is in a pencil

Good question.

A legitmate name, email address, and phone number and a preapproval to buy or  a need to sell a home with me.

take the test

Anyone worth following up with.

Thomas summed it up well. Need information to have a lead!

Thomas J. Nelson, Realtor, CRS nailed this one!