trail

[ treyl ]

/ treɪl /

verb (used with object)

to drag or let drag along the ground or other surface; draw or drag along behind.

to bring or have floating after itself or oneself: a racing car trailing clouds of dust.

to follow the track, trail, or scent of; track.

to follow along behind (another), as in a race.

to mark out, as a track.

to tread down or make a path through (grass or the like).

to draw out, as speech; protract.

Ceramics. to pour (slip) on a biscuit so as to produce a pattern.

verb (used without object)

to be drawn or dragged along the ground or some other surface, as when hanging from something moving: Her long bridal gown trailed across the floor.

to hang down loosely from something.

to stream from or float after something moving, as dust, smoke, and sparks do.

to follow as if drawn along.

to fish by trailing a line from a moving boat; troll.

to go slowly, lazily, or wearily along.

to pass or extend in a straggling line.

to change gradually or wander from a course, so as to become weak, ineffectual, etc. (usually followed by off or away): Her voice trailed off into silence.

to arrive or be last: He finally trailed in at 10 o'clock.

to be losing in a contest: The home team was trailing 20 to 15.

to creep or crawl, as a serpent.

to follow a track or scent, as of game.

(of a plant) to extend itself in growth along the ground rather than taking root or clinging by tendrils, etc.

noun

a path or track made across a wild region, over rough country, or the like, by the passage of people or animals.

the track, scent, or the like, left by an animal, person, or thing, especially as followed by a hunter, hound, or other pursuer.

something that is trailed or that trails behind, as the train of a skirt or robe.

a stream of dust, smoke, light, people, vehicles, etc., behind something moving.

Artillery. the part of a gun carriage that rests on the ground when the piece is unlimbered.

Architecture. a running vine, leaf, or tendril ornament, as in a Gothic molding.

Idioms for trail

trail arms, Military.

to hold a rifle in the right hand at an oblique angle, with the muzzle forward and the butt a few inches off the ground.
a command to trail arms.

Origin of trail

1275–1325; Middle English trailen to draw or drag in the rear; compare Old English træglian to tear off; cognate with Middle Dutch traghelen to drag; akin to Latvian dragât to tear off, drag

SYNONYMS FOR trail

3 trace, hunt.

16 diminish, shrink, dwindle.

22 See path.

23 spoor.

OTHER WORDS FROM trail

trail·ing·ly, adverb trail·less, adjective non·trail·ing, adjective un·trailed, adjective

un·trail·ing, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH trail

trail trial (see synonym study at trial)

Words nearby trail

tragion, tragopan, tragus, traherne, traik, trail, trail away, trail bike, trail boss, trail herd, trail man

British Dictionary definitions for trail away (1 of 2)

trail away

trail off

verb

(intr, adverb) to become fainter, quieter, or weaker his voice trailed off

British Dictionary definitions for trail away (2 of 2)

trail

/ (treɪl) /

verb

to drag or stream, or permit to drag or stream along a surface, esp the ground her skirt trailed; she trailed her skipping rope

to make (a track or path) through (a place) to trail a way; to trail a jungle

to chase, follow, or hunt (an animal or person) by following marks or tracks

(when intr, often foll by behind) to lag or linger behind (a person or thing)

(intr) (esp of plants) to extend or droop over or along a surface

(intr) to be falling behind in a race or competition the favourite is trailing at the last fence

(tr) to tow (a boat, caravan, etc) behind a motor vehicle

(tr) to carry (a rifle) at the full length of the right arm in a horizontal position, with the muzzle to the fore

(intr) to move wearily or slowly we trailed through the city

(tr) (on television or radio) to advertise (a future programme) with short extracts

trail one's coat to invite a quarrel by deliberately provocative behaviour

noun

a print, mark, or marks made by a person, animal, or object

the act or an instance of trailing

the scent left by a moving person or animal that is followed by a hunting animal

a path, track, or road, esp one roughly blazed

something that trails behind or trails in loops or strands

the part of a towed gun carriage and limber that connects the two when in movement and rests on the ground as a partial support when unlimbered

engineering the distance between the point of contact of a steerable wheel and a line drawn from the swivel pin axis to the ground

(on television or radio) an advertisement for a future programme

Derived forms of trail

trail-less, adjective

Word Origin for trail

C14: from Old French trailler to draw, tow, from Vulgar Latin tragulāre (unattested), from Latin trāgula dragnet, from trahere to drag; compare Middle Dutch traghelen to drag

Idioms and Phrases with trail away

trail

see blaze a trail.

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

trail

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

noun

Idioms for trail

Origin of trail

SYNONYMS FOR trail

OTHER WORDS FROM trail

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH trail

Words nearby trail

British Dictionary definitions for trail away (1 of 2)

trail off

verb

British Dictionary definitions for trail away (2 of 2)

verb

noun

Derived forms of trail

Word Origin for trail

Idioms and Phrases with trail away

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

trail

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

noun

Idioms for trail

Origin of trail

SYNONYMS FOR trail

OTHER WORDS FROM trail

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH trail

Words nearby trail

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for trail away (1 of 2)

trail off

verb

British Dictionary definitions for trail away (2 of 2)

verb

noun

Derived forms of trail

Word Origin for trail

Idioms and Phrases with trail away

British Dictionary definitions for trail away (1 of 2)