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
First recorded in 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”
I was born on that mountain, and I’ve spent most of my 44 years riding these trails on my mountain bike and my dirt bike, trail-running, and exploring with my wife and daughters.
How We Saved Our Neighborhood from a Wildfire|Dain Zaffke|September 2, 2020|Outside Online
To break her self-destructive cycle and heal, she decides to hike 1,100 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail solo.
Exclusive: The Making of Reese Witherspoon’s Golden Globe-Nominated ‘Wild’|Marlow Stern|December 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Mothers pushed their children's heads down and they sped through town, leaving a trail of machine-gun shells in their wake.
‘Argo’ in the Congo: The Ghosts of the Stanleyville Hostage Crisis|Nina Strochlic|November 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
One seemed particularly promising, by a trail with a big pile of natural brush to furnish a screen.
Knowing Where the Bodies Are Buried: An Excerpt From 'Lives in Ruins'|Marilyn Johnson|November 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Instead, that trail seems to lead to another Spinal Solutions contractor, Ryan Zavilenski.
Patients Screwed in Spine Surgery ‘Scam’|The Center for Investigative Reporting|November 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The band has not only blazed a trail for free-media artists, but they also had a blast in the process.
Viral Video Pioneers: How Pomplamoose is Turning YouTube Stardom Into a Sustainable Profession|Oliver Jones|October 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Then, once more, the Curlytops were on the trail after the Indians, as they believed.
The Curlytops at Uncle Frank's Farm|Howard R. Garis
A sudden turn of the trail revealed a squatter's hut built of rough lumber, and standing beneath a live-oak.
Bunch Grass|Horace Annesley Vachell
A hummingbird or two was not an uncommon sight along the trail at any time, but now we began to notice an increase in numbers.
Jungle Peace|William Beebe
The young ranchers had to go but a short distance, when they struck the trail left by their friends.
The Young Ranchers|Edward S. Ellis
Every visitor should take the trail into the depths of Bryce Canyon, either on foot or horseback.
Zion National Park|Various
British Dictionary definitions for trail
trail
/ (treɪl) /
verb
to drag or stream, or permit to drag or stream along a surface, esp the groundher 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 competitionthe 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 slowlywe trailed through the city
(tr)(on television or radio) to advertise (a future programme) with short extracts
trail one's coatto 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
engineeringthe 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