trail definition - Dictionary

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tragedy of the commons

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trail

trail [ trayl ]

verb (past and past participle trailed, present participle trail·ing, 3rd person present singular trails)

Definition:

1. transitive verb follow somebody secretly: to follow a person or animal either by staying close but out of sight or by looking for signs of movement left behind such as footprints or scent

2. transitive and intransitive verb fall behind in sports competition: to be losing or behind in a race, match, or competition

3. intransitive verb lag: to walk slowly, usually from tiredness or boredom

4. transitive and intransitive verb drag something, or be dragged: to be pulled or dragged along, or pull or drag something along

5. intransitive verb drape: to hang, grow, or float loosely

Her curly hair trailed along her shoulders and down her back.

6. transitive verb tow something: to tow something such as a trailer behind a vehicle

7. transitive verb ceramics decorate something by drizzling liquid clay: to decorate ceramics with liquid clay slip that is drizzled or sprayed on

8. transitive verb arms carry weapon in low position: to carry a weapon horizontally or with the butt near to the ground

9. transitive and intransitive verb make track: to make a track through a place

noun (plural trails)

Definition:

1. route through countryside: a route through the countryside that links paths and points of interest

a nature trail

2. marks where somebody or something moved: a sequence of marks left by somebody or something moving along a surface

3. path: a path or track, especially one that has been beaten through a wild area

4. scent followed: a scent or track that is followed in a hunt

5. arms bottom of gun carriage: the part of a gun carriage that rests on the ground

[14th century. Via Old French trailler "to tow" < Latin tragula "dragnet, sledge," probably < trahere "to pull"]

Spelling Note


	trail or trial? Do not confuse the spelling of trail and trial. Trail can be used as a verb, meaning "follow secretly," "fall behind," or "drag" (as in The police trailed him to a motel.They trailed the opponents by two points.Your coat is trailing on the ground.), or as a noun, denoting a path or a track that is followed (as in a nature trail, a trail of footprints). Trial is chiefly used as a noun, referring to a legal process, a test, or a painful experience, as in trial by jury, a trial of a new drug, trials and tribulations.

Word Key: Synonyms


	See follow.