Adjacent Words

Trail definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

TRAIL, v.t. [L. traho.]
1. To hunt by the track. [See the Norman, supra.]
2. To draw along the ground. Trail your pikes.
And hung his head, and trail'd his legs along.
They shall not trail me through the streets
Like a wild beast.
That long behind he trails his pompous robe.
3. To lower; as, to trail arms.
4. In America, to tread down gras by walking through; to lay flat; as, to trail grass.
TRAIL, v.i. To be drawn out in length.
When his brother saw the red blood trail.
TRAIL, n. Track followed by the hunter; scent left on the ground by the animal pursued.
How cheerfully on the false trail they cry.
1. Any thing drawn to length; as the trail of a meteor; a trail of smoke.
When lightning shoots in glitt'ring trails along.
2. Any thing drawn behind in long undulations; a train.
And drew behind a radiant trail of hair.
3. The entrails of a fowl; applied sometimes to those of sheep.
boards, in ship-building, a term for the craved work between the cheeks of the head, at the heel of the figure.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: a track or mark left by something that has passed; "there as a trail of blood"; "a tear left its trail on her cheek"
2: a path or track roughly blazed through wild or hilly country
3: evidence pointing to a possible solution; "the police are following a promising lead"; "the trail led straight to the perpetrator" [syn: lead, track, trail] v
1: to lag or linger behind; "But in so many other areas we still are dragging" [syn: drag, trail, get behind, hang back, drop behind, drop back]
2: go after with the intent to catch; "The policeman chased the mugger down the alley"; "the dog chased the rabbit" [syn: chase, chase after, trail, tail, tag, give chase, dog, go after, track]
3: move, proceed, or walk draggingly or slowly; "John trailed behind his class mates"; "The Mercedes trailed behind the horse cart" [syn: trail, shack]
4: hang down so as to drag along the ground; "The bride's veiled trailed along the ground"
5: drag loosely along a surface; allow to sweep the ground; "The toddler was trailing his pants"; "She trained her long scarf behind her" [syn: trail, train]

Merriam Webster's

I. verb Etymology: Middle English, perhaps from Anglo-French *trailer, alteration of trainer to drag, trail on the ground — more at train Date: 13th century intransitive verb 1. a. to hang down so as to drag along or sweep the ground b. to extend over a surface in a loose or straggling manner <a vine that trails over the ground> c. to grow to such length as to droop over toward the ground <trailing branches of a weeping birch> 2. a. to walk or proceed draggingly, heavily, or wearily ; plod, trudge b. to lag behind ; do poorly in relation to others 3. to move, flow, or extend slowly in thin streams <smoke trailing from chimneys> 4. a. to extend in an erratic or uneven course or line ; straggle b. dwindle <her voice trailing off> 5. to follow a trail ; track game transitive verb 1. a. to draw or drag loosely along a surface ; allow to sweep the ground b. haul, tow 2. a. to drag (as a limb or the body) heavily or wearily b. to carry or bring along as an addition, burden, or encumbrance c. to draw along in one's wake 3. a. to follow upon the scent or trace of ; track b. to follow in the footsteps of ; pursue c. to follow along behind d. to lag behind (as a competitor) Synonyms: see chase II. noun Date: 14th century 1. something that trails or is trailed: as a. a trailing plant b. the train of a gown c. a trailing arrangement (as of flowers) ; spray d. the part of a gun carriage that rests on the ground when the piece is unlimbered 2. a. something that follows or moves along as if being drawn along ; train <a trail of admirers> b. (1) the streak produced by a meteor (2) a continuous line produced photographically by permitting the image of a celestial body (as a star) to move over the plate c. a chain of consequences ; aftermath <the…movement left a trail of bitterness and prejudice behind it — Paul Blanshard> 3. a. a trace or mark left by something that has passed or been drawn along ; scent, track <a trail of blood> b. (1) a track made by passage especially through a wilderness (2) a marked or established path or route especially through a forest or mountainous region c. a course followed or to be followed <hit the campaign trail> • trailless adjective

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. & v. --n. 1 a a track left by a thing, person, etc., moving over a surface (left a trail of wreckage; a slug's slimy trail). b a track or scent followed in hunting, seeking, etc. (he's on the trail). 2 a beaten path or track, esp. through a wild region. 3 a part dragging behind a thing or person; an appendage (a trail of smoke; a condensation trail). 4 the rear end of a gun-carriage stock. --v. 1 tr. & intr. draw or be drawn along behind, esp. on the ground. 2 intr. (often foll. by behind) walk wearily; lag; straggle. 3 tr. follow the trail of; pursue (trailed him to his home). 4 intr. be losing in a game or other contest (trailing by three points). 5 intr. (usu. foll. by away, off) peter out; tail off. 6 intr. a (of a plant etc.) grow or hang over a wall, along the ground etc. b (of a garment etc.) hang loosely. 7 tr. (often refl.) drag (oneself, one's limbs, etc.) along wearily etc. 8 tr. advertise (a film, a radio or television programme, etc.) in advance by showing extracts etc. 9 tr. apply (slip) through a nozzle or spout to decorate ceramic ware. Phrases and idioms: at the trail Mil. with arms trailed. trail arms Mil. let a rifle etc. hang balanced in one hand and, Brit., parallel to the ground. trail bike a light motor cycle for use in rough terrain. trail-blazer 1 a person who marks a new track through wild country. 2 a pioneer; an innovator. trail-blazing n. the act or process of blazing a trail. --attrib.adj. that blazes a trail; pioneering. trail one's coat deliberately provoke a quarrel, fight, etc. trailing edge 1 the rear edge of an aircraft's wing etc. 2 Electronics the part of a pulse in which the amplitude diminishes (opp. leading edge (see LEADING(1))). trailing wheel a wheel not given direct motive power. trail-net a drag-net. Etymology: ME (earlier as verb) f. OF traillier to tow, or f. MLG treilen haul f. L tragula drag-net

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Trail Trail, v. i. 1. To be drawn out in length; to follow after. When his brother saw the red blood trail. --Spenser. 2. To grow to great length, especially when slender and creeping upon the ground, as a plant; to run or climb.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Trail Trail, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Trailed; p. pr. & vb. n. Trailing.] [OE. trailen, OF. trailler to trail a deer, or hunt him upon a cold scent, also, to hunt or pursue him with a limehound, F. trailler to trail a fishing line; probably from a derivative of L. trahere to draw; cf. L. traha a drag, sledge, tragula a kind of drag net, a small sledge, Sp. trailla a leash, an instrument for leveling the ground, D. treilen to draw with a rope, to tow, treil a rope for drawing a boat. See Trace, v. t.] 1. To hunt by the track; to track.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Trail Trail, n. 1. A track left by man or beast; a track followed by the hunter; a scent on the ground by the animal pursued; as, a deer trail. They traveled in the bed of the brook, leaving no dangerous trail. --Cooper. How cheerfully on the false trail they cry! --Shak. 2. A footpath or road track through a wilderness or wild region; as, an Indian trail over the plains. 3. Anything drawn out to a length; as, the trail of a meteor; a trail of smoke. When lightning shoots in glittering trails along. --Rowe. 4. Anything drawn behind in long undulations; a train. ``A radiant trail of hair.'' --Pope. 5. Anything drawn along, as a vehicle. [Obs.] 6. A frame for trailing plants; a trellis. [Obs.] 7. The entrails of a fowl, especially of game, as the woodcock, and the like; -- applied also, sometimes, to the entrails of sheep. The woodcock is a favorite with epicures, and served with its trail in, is a delicious dish. --Baird. 8. (Mil.) That part of the stock of a gun carriage which rests on the ground when the piece is unlimbered. See Illust. of Gun carriage, under Gun. 9. The act of taking advantage of the ignorance of a person; an imposition. [Prov. Eng.] Trail boards (Shipbuilding), the carved boards on both sides of the cutwater near the figurehead. Trail net, a net that is trailed or drawn behind a boat. --Wright.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(trails, trailing, trailed) Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English. 1. A trail is a rough path across open country or through forests. He was following a broad trail through the trees. = track N-COUNT 2. A trail is a route along a series of paths or roads, often one that has been planned and marked out for a particular purpose. ...a large area of woodland with hiking and walking trails. N-COUNT 3. A trail is a series of marks or other signs of movement or other activities left by someone or something. Everywhere in the house was a sticky trail of orange juice... N-COUNT: usu sing, oft N of n 4. If you trail someone or something, you follow them secretly, often by finding the marks or signs that they have left. Two detectives were trailing him... I trailed her to a shop in Kensington. = follow VERB: V n, V n prep/adv 5. You can refer to all the places that a politician visits in the period before an election as their campaign trail. During a recent speech on the campaign trail, he was interrupted by hecklers. N-COUNT: n N 6. If you trail something or it trails, it hangs down loosely behind you as you move along. She came down the stairs slowly, trailing the coat behind her... He let his fingers trail in the water. VERB: V n, V prep 7. If someone trails somewhere, they move there slowly, without any energy or enthusiasm, often following someone else. He trailed through the wet Manhattan streets... VERB: V adv/prep 8. If a person or team in a sports match or other contest is trailing, they have a lower score than their opponents. He scored again, leaving Dartford trailing 3-0 at the break... The polls showed the Tories trailing behind the Government by 17 per cent. VERB: usu cont, V amount, V behind n 9. If you are on the trail of a person or thing, you are trying hard to find them or find out about them. The police were hot on his trail... PHRASE: usu v-link PHR 10. to blaze a trail: see blaze see also nature trail, paper trail

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

I. v. a. 1. Draw, drag along. 2. Track, trace, follow, hunt. 3. (Local Eng.) Impose upon, take advantage of one's ignorance. II. v. n. 1. Drag, be drawn along, be drawn out. 2. Run (as a plant), climb, grow to great length. III. n. 1. Train. 2. Track, trace, mark, footprint, footmark, footstep. 3. Scent. 4. [U. S.] Footpath (made by Indians). 5. Entrails (as of fowl or of sheep).

Moby Thesaurus

afterclap, aftercrop, aftereffect, afterglow, aftergrowth, afterimage, aftermath, afterpart, afterpiece, aftertaste, alameda, aroma, attend, back, back up, bag, beat, beaten path, beaten track, bedog, berm, bicycle path, boardwalk, breath, bridle path, cascade, catwalk, chase, chivy, come after, come behind, come last, condensation trail, contrail, course, daggle, dally, dangle, dawdle, decrease, definite odor, delay, depend, detectable odor, die out, dillydally, diminish, disappear, displace, dog, drabble, drag, drag along, draggle, drape, draw, drive, droop, dwindle, effluvium, emanate, emanation, ensue, esplanade, essence, exhalation, fade away, fade out, falcon, fall, fall astern, fall back, fall behind, falter, fastwalk, flag, flap, flavor, flop, flow, flush, follow, follow a clue, follow after, follow the hounds, follow up, foot pavement, footpath, footprints, footsteps, footway, fowl, fragrance, fume, garden path, get behind, go after, go back, go backwards, go behind, go hunting, goof off, groove, grow dim, gun, hale, halt, hang, hang back, hang down, haul, hawk, heave, heel, hiking trail, hound, hunt, hunt down, issue, jack, jacklight, lag, lag behind, lessen, line, linger, linger behind, loiter, lollygag, lop, lug, mall, move, move behind, nod, nose, nose out, odor, overtake, parade, path, pathway, pend, peter out, piste, plod, poke, prado, procrastinate, promenade, prowl after, public walk, pull, pursue, queue, redolence, regress, replace, result, retrogress, revert, ride to hounds, route, run, run down, run to earth, runway, rut, sag, savor, scent, shadow, shikar, shilly-shally, shoot, sidewalk, signs, smell, smell out, snake, sniff out, spoor, sport, stalk, start, stench, still-hunt, straggle, stream, string along, subside, subtle odor, succeed, supervene, swag, sweep, swing, tab, tag, tag after, tag along, tail, tailgate, tailpiece, take in tow, taper off, tarry, tow, towing path, towpath, trace, trace down, traces, track, track down, trail after, trail behind, trailer, train, traipse, trawl, tread close upon, troll, trottoir, trudge, tug, vapor trail, wake, walk, walkway, waste time, way, weaken, weep, whiff