trail

noun countable

UK /treɪl/

Word Forms

singular	trail
plural	trails

1
a path through the countryside, especially one designed for walking for pleasure
The trail led down to the lake.
follow a trail:
We followed a winding trail into the mountains.
Synonyms and related words
Paths used only for walking or riding
path
pathway
footpath
2
a series of marks or objects left by someone or something that shows they have been there
trail of:
a trail of blood
leave a trail:
He left a trail of muddy footprints.
follow a trail:
We followed the trail of ribbons he had tied to the trees.
Synonyms and related words
Proof and evidence
evidence
sign
suggestion
1. 2a
  a smell or series of marks left by an animal
  follow a trail:
  Dogs can follow a bear’s trail for several miles.
  Synonyms and related words
  General words for hunting, shooting and fishing
  an easy target
  angling
  bag
3
damage or harm caused by something bad
trail of:
Hurricane Andrew left a trail of destruction along the coast.
Synonyms and related words
Destruction and damage
damage
destruction
harm
1. 3a
  a series of bad or harmful events
  a trail of murders/robberies
  Synonyms and related words
  Series of events or occurrences
  pattern
  process
  train
4
a series of pieces of connected evidence that prove that someone did something wrong or illegal
The trail of missing funds led investigators directly to Wang.
Synonyms and related words
Proof and evidence
evidence
sign
suggestion
See alsopaper trail
5
mainly journalisma series of activities that you do in order to achieve something
the campaign/championship/winning/comeback trail:
The usual pack of reporters were following Bush on the campaign trail.
hit the trail (=begin to try to achieve something):
Sefton hits the cup trail tomorrow, following today’s win.
Synonyms and related words
A series of actions or activities
series
process
campaign

phrases

(hot) on the trail of

trail

noun countable

US /treɪl/

Word Forms

singular	trail
plural	trails

1
a path through the countryside, especially one designed for walking for pleasure
The trail led down to the lake.
follow a trail:
We followed a winding trail into the mountains.
Synonyms and related words
Paths used only for walking or riding
path
pathway
footpath
2
a series of marks or objects left by someone or something that shows they have been there
trail of:
a trail of blood
leave a trail:
He left a trail of muddy footprints.
follow a trail:
We followed the trail of ribbons he had tied to the trees.
Synonyms and related words
Proof and evidence
evidence
sign
suggestion
1. 2a
  a smell or series of marks left by an animal
  follow a trail:
  Dogs can follow a bear’s trail for several miles.
  Synonyms and related words
  General words for hunting, shooting and fishing
  an easy target
  angling
  bag
3
damage or harm caused by something bad
trail of:
Hurricane Andrew left a trail of destruction along the coast.
Synonyms and related words
Destruction and damage
damage
destruction
harm
1. 3a
  a series of bad or harmful events
  a trail of murders/robberies
  Synonyms and related words
  Series of events or occurrences
  pattern
  process
  train
4
a series of pieces of connected evidence that prove that someone did something wrong or illegal
The trail of missing funds led investigators directly to Wang.
Synonyms and related words
Proof and evidence
evidence
sign
suggestion
See alsopaper trail
5
mainly journalisma series of activities that you do in order to achieve something
the campaign/election trail:
The usual pack of reporters were following Bush on the campaign trail.
hit the trail (=begin to try to achieve something):
With their latest victory, the Yankees have clearly hit the pennant trail.
Synonyms and related words
A series of actions or activities
series
process
campaign

phrases

(hot) on the trail of

trail

verb

UK /treɪl/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	trail
he/she/it	trails
present participle	trailing
past tense	trailed
past participle	trailed

1
intransitive to move slowly and in a tired or unhappy way, often so that you are a short distance behind other people
trail after/behind/around:
My husband usually trails behind me when I’m shopping.
Synonyms and related words
To move, or to move something, slowly
crawl
dawdle
creep
2
intransitive/transitive mainly journalismto be losing in a competition or election
A recent poll shows the Democrats trailing the Republicans.
trail by:
At the end of the round, Garcia trailed by two strokes.
Synonyms and related words
Elections and relating to the electoral system
alternative vote
AV
ballot rigging
3
intransitive/transitive to pull something behind you, or to be pulled behind someone or something
Trailing his coat in the dirt, he turned towards home.
I don’t want the dress to trail along the ground.
Synonyms and related words
To move something by pulling
drag
heave
tear at
4
transitive to leave marks on a surface or a substance in the air as you go through a place
The dogs came in, trailing mud everywhere.
a jeep trailing clouds of dust
Synonyms and related words
To move through an area or object
cross
cut across
push
1. 4a
  intransitive if a line of marks or long thin objects trail across a place, they are left there by someone or something
  trail across/over/along:
  Old cables and wires trailed across the garden.
  Synonyms and related words
  To move through an area or object
  cross
  cut across
  push
5
transitive to follow someone secretly in order to learn something about them
Detectives trailed Evans for weeks.
Synonyms and related words
To follow someone
follow
shadow
track
6
intransitive/transitive if something trails somewhere, it hangs down from something
geraniums trailing from terracotta pots
Synonyms and related words
To hang, or to hang down
hang
hang out
dangle

phrasal verbs

trail away

trail

verb

US /treɪl/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	trail
he/she/it	trails
present participle	trailing
past tense	trailed
past participle	trailed

1
intransitive/transitive mainly journalismto be losing in a competition or election
A recent poll shows the Democrats trailing the Republicans.
trail by:
At the end of the round, Garcia trailed by two strokes.
Synonyms and related words
Elections and relating to the electoral system
advance poll
alternative vote
AV
2
intransitive/transitive to pull something behind you, or to be pulled behind someone or something
Trailing his coat in the dirt, he turned toward home.
I don’t want the dress to trail along the ground.
Synonyms and related words
To move something by pulling
drag
heave
tear at
3
intransitive to move slowly and in a tired or unhappy way, often so that you are a short distance behind other people
trail after/behind/around:
My husband usually trails behind me when I’m shopping.
Synonyms and related words
To move, or to move something, slowly
crawl
dawdle
creep
4
transitive to follow someone secretly in order to learn something about them
Detectives trailed Evans for weeks.
Synonyms and related words
To follow someone
follow
shadow
track
5
transitive to leave marks on a surface or a substance in the air as you go through a place
The dogs came in, trailing mud everywhere.
a jeep trailing clouds of dust
Synonyms and related words
To move through an area or object
cross
cut across
push
1. 5a
  intransitive if a line of marks or long thin objects trail across a place, they are left there by someone or something
  trail across/over/along:
  Old cables and wires trailed across the garden.
  Synonyms and related words
  To move through an area or object
  cross
  cut across
  push
6
intransitive/transitive if something trails somewhere, it hangs down from something
geraniums trailing from terra-cotta pots
Synonyms and related words
To hang, or to hang down
hang
hang out
dangle

phrasal verbs

trail away

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