Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense tails, present participle tailing, past tense, past participle tailed
1. countable noun
The tail of an animal, bird, or fish is the part extending beyond the end of its body.
The cattle were swinging their tails to disperse the flies.
...a black dog with a long tail.
Synonyms: extremity, appendage, brush, rear end More Synonyms of tail
-tailedcombining form
...white-tailed deer.
2. countable noun
You can use tail to refer to the end or back of something, especially something long and thin.
...the horizontal stabilizer bar on the plane's tail.
Elsie tugged her father's coat tail.
...a comet tail.
Synonyms: train, end, trail, tailpiece More Synonyms of tail
3. plural noun
If someone is wearing tails, they are wearing a formal jacket which has two long pieces hanging down at the back.
4. verb
To tail someone means to follow close behind them and watch where they go and what they do.
[informal]
Officers had tailed the gang from London during a major undercover inquiry. [VERB noun]
He trusted her so little that he had her tailed. [have noun VERB-ed]
Synonyms: follow, track, shadow, trail More Synonyms of tail
5. countable noun
A tail is someone who is paid to watch and to follow another person.
[informal]
He checked behind. No tail.
6. adverb [ADVERB after verb]
If you toss a coin and it comes down tails, you can see the side of it that does not have a picture of a head on it.
7.
See the tail is wagging the dog
8.
See with your tail between your legs
9.
See turn tail
10. cannot make head or tail of something
11. top and tail
Phrasal verbs:
See tail away
See tail back
See tail off
More Synonyms of tail
tail in British English1
(teɪl)
noun
1.
the region of the vertebrate body that is posterior to or above the anus and contains an elongation of the vertebral column, esp forming a flexible movable appendage
▶ Related adjective: caudal
2.
anything resembling such an appendage in form or position; the bottom, lowest, or rear part
the tail of a shirt
3.
the last part or parts
the tail of the storm
4.
the rear part of an aircraft including the fin, tailplane, and control surfaces; empennage
5. astronomy
the luminous stream of gas and dust particles, up to 200 million km long, driven from the head of a comet, when close to the sun, under the effect of the solar wind and light pressure
6.
the rear portion of a bomb, rocket, missile, etc, usually fitted with guiding or stabilizing vanes
7.
a line of people or things
8.
a long braid or tress of hair
a ponytail
a pigtail
9. Also called: tailfly angling
the lowest fly on a wet-fly cast
10.
a final short line in a stanza
11. informal
a person employed to follow and spy upon another or others
12.
an informal word for buttocks
buttock
13. vulgar, slang
a.
the female genitals
b. offensive
a woman considered sexually (esp in the phrases piece of tail, bit of tail)
14. printing
a.
the margin at the foot of a page
b.
the bottom edge of a book
15.
the lower end of a pool or part of a stream
16. informal
the course or track of a fleeing person or animal
the police are on my tail
17. (modifier)
coming from or situated in the rear
a tail wind
18. turn tail
19. with one's tail between one's legs
verb
20.
to form or cause to form the tail
21.
to remove the tail of (an animal); dock
22. (transitive)
to remove the stalk of
to top and tail the gooseberries
23. (transitive)
to connect (objects, ideas, etc) together by or as if by the tail
24. (transitive) informal
to follow stealthily
25. (transitive) Australian
to tend (cattle) on foot
26. (intransitive)
(of a vessel) to assume a specified position, as when at a mooring
27.
to build the end of (a brick, joist, etc) into a wall or (of a brick, etc) to have one end built into a wall
Derived forms
tailless (ˈtailless)
adjective
taillessly (ˈtaillessly)
adverb
taillessness (ˈtaillessness)
noun
tail-like (ˈtail-ˌlike)
adjective
Word origin
Old English tægel; related to Old Norse tagl horse's tail, Gothic tagl hair, Old High German zagal tail
tail in British English2
(teɪl) property law
noun
1.
the limitation of an estate or interest to a person and the heirs of his or her body
See also entail
adjective
2. (immediately postpositive)
(of an estate or interest) limited in this way
Derived forms
tailless (ˈtailless)
adjective
Word origin
C15: from Old French taille a division; see tailor, tally
tail in American English1
(teɪl)
noun
1.
a.
the rear end of an animal's body, esp. when forming a distinct, flexible appendage to the trunk
b.
such an appendage
2.
anything like an animal's tail in form or position
the tail of a shirt
3.
a luminous train behind a comet or meteor
4.
the hind, bottom, last, or inferior part of anything
5. [often pl.]
the reverse side of a coin
6.
a long braid or tress of hair
7.
a train of followers or attendants; retinue
8.
the lower end of a pool or stream
9.
a.
the rear or back section of an aircraft
b.
a set of stabilizing planes at the rear of an airplane
c.
the rear part of a rocket or missile
10. US; [pl.]
a.
tailcoat
b.
full-dress attire for men
11. Informal
a person or vehicle that follows another, esp. in surveillance
12. Slang
the buttocks
13. Slang, Vulgar
a.
sexual intercourse with a woman
b.
a woman regarded as a sexual partner
14. Printing
the bottom of a page
15. Prosody
the short line or lines ending certain stanzas or verse forms
adjective
16.
at the rear or rear end
17.
from the rear
a tail wind
verb transitive
18.
to provide with a tail
19.
to cut or detach the tail or taillike part from
20.
to form the tail or end of, as of a group or procession; be at the rear or end of
21.
to fasten or connect at or by the tail
22.
to fasten one end of (a brick, board, etc.) into a wall, etc.
with in or on
23. US, Slang
to follow stealthily; shadow
verb intransitive
24.
to straggle
25.
to become gradually smaller or fainter
with off or away
26.
to be fastened into a wall, etc. by one end
said of a brick or board
27. US, Informal
to follow close behind
28. Nautical
to go aground or be anchored stern foremost
Idioms:
on someone's tail
turn tail
with one's tail between one's legs
Derived forms
tailless (ˈtailless)
adjective
taillike (ˈtailˌlike)
adjective
Word origin
ME < OE tægel, akin to OHG zagel < IE base *de-, to tear, tear off > Sans saśā, fringe
tail in American English2
(teɪl)
noun
1.
entail (sense 4) entail (sense 5)
adjective
2.
limited in a specific way, as to certain heirs or order of succession
Word origin
ME taile < OFr taille, a cutting < taillier: see tailor
More idioms containing
tail
someone cannot make head or tail of something
in two shakes of a lamb's tail
something has a sting in the tail
chase your own tail
go off with your tail between your legs
on someone's tail
the tail wags the dog
turn tail
with your tail up
Word lists with
tail
parts of an aircraft, parts of an aircraft, parts of a book, parts of clothes, parts of clothing, Property law terms
In other languages
tail
British English: tail /teɪl/ NOUN
The tail of an animal is the part extending beyond the end of its body.
...a black dog with a long tail.
American English: tail
Arabic: ذَيْل
Brazilian Portuguese: rabo
Chinese: 尾巴
Croatian: rep
Czech: ocas
Danish: hale
Dutch: staart
European Spanish: rabo
Finnish: häntä
French: queue animal
German: Schwanz
Greek: ουρά
Italian: coda
Japanese: 尾
Korean: 꼬리
Norwegian: hale
Polish: ogon
European Portuguese: rabo
Romanian: coadă
Russian: хвост
Latin American Spanish: rabo
Swedish: svans
Thai: หาง
Turkish: kuyruk hayvan vb
Ukrainian: хвіст
Vietnamese: cái đuôi
British English: tail VERB
To tail someone means to follow close behind them and watch where they go and what they do.
Officers had tailed the gang during a major undercover inquiry.
American English: tail
Brazilian Portuguese: seguir bem de perto
Chinese: 跟踪
European Spanish: seguir
French: filer
German: folgen
Italian: pedinare
Japanese: 尾行する
Korean: 미행하다
European Portuguese: seguir bem de perto
Latin American Spanish: seguir
All related terms of 'tail'
e-tail
retail conducted via the internet
cat-tail
a grasslike cyperaceous marsh plant, Scirpus lacustris , used for making mats , chair seats, etc
coat-tail
the long tapering tails at the back of a man's tailed coat
fat tail
a tail on a probability distribution that indicates a high level of risk
fee tail
a freehold interest in land restricted to a particular line of heirs
fish tail
a step in ballroom dancing in which the feet are quickly crossed
high-tail
to leave or go in a hurry ; scurry off
long tail
the segment of a market representing the large number of products that sell in small quantities , considered by some to be of greater financial value than the few products that sell in very large quantities
rat tail
a hair style characterized by a long thin tail of hair growing at the back of the head
tail away
When a person's voice tails away or tails off , it gradually becomes quieter and then silent .
tail back
When traffic tails back , a long line of it forms along a road , and moves very slowly or not at all, for example because of road works or an accident .
tail beam
an extension or appendage that lengthens or completes something
tail coat
a man's black coat having a horizontal cut over the hips and a tapering tail with a vertical slit up to the waist : worn as part of full evening dress
tail end
The tail end of an event , situation , or period of time is the last part of it.
tail fin
a fixed or adjustable fin on the rear of a rocket , car, etc.
tail off
When something tails off , it gradually becomes less in amount or value , often before coming to an end completely.
tail out
to guide (timber) as it emerges from a power saw
tail unit
the back or rear section of an aeroplane
tail wind
a wind blowing in the same direction as the course of a ship or aircraft
turn tail
If you turn tail , you turn and run away.
Beaver Tail
a flat oval doughnut served fried and sugared
cat's-tail
→ another name for reed mace (sense 1 )
dog's-tail
any of several grasses of the genus Cynosurus, esp C. cristatus ( crested dog's- tail ), that are native to Europe and have flowers clustered in a dense narrow spike
mare's-tail
a wisp of trailing cirrus cloud , often indicating high winds in the upper troposphere
racket-tail
any of several birds with a racket-shaped tail, such as certain hummingbirds and kingfishers
shirt-tail
Shirt-tails are the long parts of a shirt below the waist.
tail covert
any of the covert feathers of a bird covering the bases of the tail feathers
tail-heavy
(of an aircraft) having too much weight at the rear because of overloading or poor design
tail-light
The tail-lights on a car or other vehicle are the two red lights at the back.
tail rotor
a small propeller fitted to the rear of a helicopter to counteract the torque reaction of the main rotor and thus prevent the body of the helicopter from rotating in an opposite direction
lobster tail
the flesh of the tail of any of various crustaceans , esp. the Cape crawfish, prepared as food, often by broiling in the shell
tail assembly
the tail part of a plane
tail feather
one of the feathers making up a bird's tail
tail section
the back or rear section of an aeroplane
nose to tail
If vehicles are nose to tail , the front of one vehicle is close behind the back of another.
peacock's tail
a handsome brown seaweed , Padina pavonia (though coloured yellow-olive, red, and green) whose fan-shaped fronds have concentric bands of iridescent hairs
top and tail
If you top and tail fruit or vegetables such as French beans , you cut off the tops and the bottoms of them when you are preparing them to be eaten .
ruby-tail wasp
any of various brightly coloured wasps of the family Chrysididae , having a metallic sheen , which parasitize bees and other solitary wasps
all-flying tail
a type of aircraft tailplane in which the whole of the tailplane is moved for control purposes
crested dog's-tail
a common wiry perennial grass, Cynosurus cristatus, of meadows and pasture
long-tail claims
Long-tail claims are claims that are made or settled a long time after the insurance policy has expired .
on someone's tail
following someone closely, often chasing them
shirt-tail cousin
a distant cousin
ponytail
A ponytail is a hairstyle in which someone's hair is tied up at the back of the head and hangs down like a tail .
rear light
a red light, usually one of a pair , attached to the rear of a motor vehicle
tailcoat
A tailcoat is a man's coat which is short at the front with long pieces at the back . Tailcoats were popular in the 19th century and are now worn only for very formal occasions , such as weddings .
tailspin
a state of confusion or panic
tailwind
A tailwind is a wind that is blowing from behind an aeroplane , boat , or other vehicle , making it move faster.
short-tail business
Short-tail business is insurance business where it is known that claims will be made and settled quickly.
squirrel-tail grass
an annual grass, Hordeum marinum , of salt marsh margins of Europe, having bushy awns
Chinese translation of 'tail'
tail
(teɪl)
n(c)
[of animal]尾巴 (wěiba) (条(條), tiáo)
[of plane]尾部 (wěibù)
[of shirt, coat]下摆(擺) (xiàbǎi)
vt
(= follow)[person, vehicle]尾随(隨) (wěisuí)
to turn tail (and run)掉头(頭)(逃跑) (diàotóu (táopǎo))
"heads or tails?" — "tails""正面还(還)是背面？" "背面" ("zhèngmiàn háishì bèimiàn?" "bèimiàn")
Derived Forms
tailsn, pl(c) (= formal suit) 燕尾服 (yànwěifú)
1 (noun)
Definition
the rear part of an animal's body, usually forming a long thin flexible part attached to the trunk
The cattle were swinging their tails to disperse the flies.
Synonyms
extremity
appendage
brush
rear end
hindquarters
hind part
empennage
2 (noun)
Definition
the luminous stream of gas and dust particles driven from the head of a comet when it is close to the sun
a comet tail
Synonyms
train
a velvet dress, bias cut with a train
end
trail
the high vapour trail of an aircraft
tailpiece
3 (noun)
Definition
a person employed to follow and spy upon another
The police had already put a tail on a couple of suspects.
Synonyms
shadow
detective
Detectives are appealing for witnesses.
private eye (informal)
sleuth (informal)
a tenacious sleuth
private investigator
4 (noun)
Definition
the last part
We still have the tail of the outbreak to deal with.
Synonyms
close
Her retirement brings to a close a successful chapter in the school's history.
end
She brought the interview to an abrupt end.
conclusion
At the conclusion of the programme, viewers were invited to phone in.
termination
a dispute which led to the abrupt termination of trade
tail end
5 (noun)
(informal)
He desperately needs a kick in the tail.
Synonyms
buttocks
Try to relax your whole back, from the buttocks up to the shoulders.
behind (informal)
jeans that actually flatter your behind
bottom
He moved his bottom on the window-seat.
butt (informal)
I don't want to sit around on my butt all day.
bum (British, slang)
I slipped and fell on my bum.
ass (US, Canadian, taboo, slang)
rear (informal)
He plans to have the five Olympic rings tattooed on his rear.
buns (US, slang)
arse (taboo, slang)
You can't do business sitting on your arse all day.
backside (informal)
I lost my balance and landed hard on my backside.
rump
jeans stretching across her rump
rear end
posterior
Sit down on your posterior.
derrière (euphemistic)
jacksy (British, slang)
6 (noun)
She wore bleached denims with her golden tail of hair swinging.
Synonyms
ponytail
braid
plait
tress
her long, burnished blonde tresses
pigtail
7 (noun)
Synonyms
line
Children clutching empty bowls form a line.
train
a long train of oil tankers
file
A file of soldiers, marched past.
queue
A queue of more than sixty people snaked its way down the pavement.
tailback
(verb)
Definition
to follow (someone) stealthily
(informal)
Officers had tailed the gang in an undercover inquiry.
Synonyms
follow
I think we're being followed.
track
He thought he had better track this creature and kill it.
shadow
shadowed by a large and highly visible body of police
trail
Two detectives were trailing him.
stalk
Wolves stalk their prey across the tundra.
keep an eye on
dog the footsteps of
idioms
See on someone's tail
phrasal verb
See tail away or off
See turn tail
related words
related adjectivecaudal
Additional synonyms
in the sense of appendage
Definition
a secondary part attached to a main part
Synonyms
limb,
member,
projection,
extremity,
protuberance
in the sense of arse
Definition
the buttocks or anus
You can't do business sitting on your arse all day.
Synonyms
bottom (informal),
bum (British, slang),
behind (informal),
seat,
rear (informal),
tail (informal),
butt (US, Canadian, informal),
ass (US, Canadian, taboo, slang),
buns (US, slang),
buttocks,
backside (informal),
rump,
rear end,
posterior,
derrière (euphemistic),
tush (US, slang),
fundament,
jacksy (British, slang)
in the sense of backside
Definition
the buttocks
I lost my balance and landed hard on my backside.
Synonyms
buttocks,
behind (informal),
seat,
bottom (informal),
rear (informal),
tail (informal),
cheeks (informal),
butt (informal),
bum (British, slang),
ass (taboo, slang),
buns (slang),
arse (taboo, slang),
rump,
fanny (slang, US, Canadian),
rear end,
posterior,
haunches,
hindquarters,
derrière (euphemistic),
tush,
fundament,
gluteus maximus,
coit (Australian, slang),
nates,
jacksy (British, slang),
keister or keester (slang, US)
Synonyms of 'tail'
tail
Explore 'tail' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of behind
Definition
the buttocks
jeans that actually flatter your behind
Synonyms
bottom (informal),
seat,
bum (British, slang),
ass (US, Canadian, taboo, slang),
butt (informal),
buns (slang),
arse (taboo, slang),
buttocks,
rump,
posterior,
tail (informal),
derrière (euphemistic),
tush (US, slang),
jacksy (British, slang)
in the sense of bottom
Definition
the buttocks
He moved his bottom on the window-seat.
Synonyms
buttocks,
behind (informal),
rear,
butt (informal),
bum (British, slang),
ass (US, Canadian, taboo, slang),
buns (US, slang),
arse (taboo, slang),
backside,
rump,
seat,
tail (informal),
rear end (informal),
posterior,
derrière (euphemistic),
tush (US, slang),
fundament (euphemistic),
jacksy (British, slang)
in the sense of bum
Definition
the buttocks or anus
I slipped and fell on my bum.
Synonyms
bottom (informal),
backside (informal),
buttocks,
behind (informal),
rear,
arse (taboo, slang),
ass (US, Canadian, taboo, slang),
seat,
tail (informal),
butt (US, Canadian, informal),
buns (US, slang),
rump,
rear end,
posterior,
derrière (euphemistic),
tush (US, slang),
fundament,
jacksy (British, slang)
in the sense of butt
Definition
the buttocks
I don't want to sit around on my butt all day.
Synonyms
bottom (informal),
behind (informal),
bum (British, slang),
arse (taboo, slang),
ass (US, Canadian, taboo, slang),
seat,
rear (informal),
tail (informal),
buns (US, slang),
buttocks,
backside (informal),
rump,
rear end,
posterior,
derrière (euphemistic),
tush (US, slang),
fundament,
jacksy (British, slang)
in the sense of conclusion
Definition
end or ending
At the conclusion of the programme, viewers were invited to phone in.
Synonyms
end,
ending,
close,
finish,
completion,
finale,
termination,
bitter end,
result
in the sense of detective
Definition
a police officer who investigates crimes
Detectives are appealing for witnesses.
Synonyms
investigator,
cop (slang),
copper (slang),
dick (slang, US),
constable,
tec (slang, old-fashioned),
private eye,
sleuth,
private investigator,
gumshoe (US, slang, old-fashioned),
bizzy (slang, old-fashioned)
in the sense of end
Definition
the act or an instance of stopping doing something or stopping something from continuing
She brought the interview to an abrupt end.
Synonyms
finish,
close,
stop,
resolution,
conclusion,
closure,
wind-up,
completion,
termination,
cessation
in the sense of file
Definition
a line of people in marching formation, one behind another
A file of soldiers, marched past.
Synonyms
line,
row,
chain,
string,
column,
queue,
procession
in the sense of posterior
Definition
the buttocks
Sit down on your posterior.
Synonyms
bottom (informal),
behind (informal),
bum (British, slang),
seat,
rear (informal),
tail (informal),
butt (informal),
ass (US, Canadian, taboo, slang),
buns (US, slang),
arse (taboo, slang),
buttocks,
backside (informal),
rump,
rear end,
derrière (euphemistic),
tush (US, slang),
fundament,
jacksy (British, slang)
in the sense of queue
Definition
a line of people or vehicles waiting for something
A queue of more than sixty people snaked its way down the pavement.
Synonyms
line,
row,
file,
train,
series,
chain,
string,
column,
sequence,
succession,
procession,
crocodile (British, informal),
progression,
cavalcade,
concatenation (formal)
Additional synonyms
in the sense of rear
Definition
the buttocks
He plans to have the five Olympic rings tattooed on his rear.
Synonyms
behind (informal),
backside (informal),
rump,
rear end,
seat,
tail (informal),
butt (US, Canadian, informal),
bum (British, slang),
ass (US, Canadian, taboo, slang),
buns (US, slang),
arse (taboo, slang),
buttocks,
posterior,
derrière (euphemistic),
tush (US, slang),
fundament,
jacksy (British, slang)
in the sense of rump
Definition
a person's buttocks
jeans stretching across her rump
Synonyms
buttocks,
bottom (informal),
rear (informal),
backside (informal),
tail (informal),
seat,
butt (US, Canadian, informal),
bum (British, slang),
ass (US, Canadian, taboo, slang),
buns (US, slang),
arse (taboo, slang),
rear end,
posterior,
haunch,
hindquarters,
derrière (euphemistic),
croup,
jacksy (British, slang)
in the sense of sleuth
Definition
a detective
a tenacious sleuth
Synonyms
detective,
private eye (informal),
(private) investigator,
tail (informal),
dick (slang, US),
gumshoe (US, slang),
sleuthhound (informal)
in the sense of stalk
Definition
to follow (an animal or person) quietly and secretly in order to catch or kill them
Wolves stalk their prey across the tundra.
Synonyms
pursue,
follow,
track,
hunt,
shadow,
tail (informal),
haunt,
creep up on
in the sense of termination
a dispute which led to the abrupt termination of trade
Synonyms
ending,
end,
close,
finish,
conclusion,
wind-up,
completion,
cessation,
expiry,
cut-off point,
finis,
discontinuation
in the sense of track
Definition
to follow the trail of (a person or animal)
He thought he had better track this creature and kill it.
Synonyms
follow,
pursue,
chase,
trace,
tail (informal),
dog,
shadow,
trail,
stalk,
hunt down,
follow the trail of
in the sense of trail
Definition
something that trails behind
the high vapour trail of an aircraft
Synonyms
wake,
stream,
tail,
slipstream
in the sense of trail
Definition
to follow or hunt (an animal or person), usually secretly, by following the marks or tracks he, she, or it has made