trail

noun

/treɪl/

Idioms

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a long line or series of marks that is left by somebody/something
- a trail of blood
- tourists who leave a trail of litter everywhere they go
- The hurricane left a trail of destruction behind it.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adjective
- scent
- blood
- smoke
- …
verb + trail
- lay
- leave
- make
- …
trail + verb
- go cold
preposition
- on somebody’s trail
phrases
- a trail of blood
- a trail of devastation
- a trail of smoke
- …
See full entry
a track, sign or smell that is left behind and that can be followed, especially in hunting
- The hounds were following the fox's trail.
- on the trail of somebody/something The police are still on the trail of the escaped prisoner.
- Fortunately the trail was still warm (= clear and easy to follow).
- The trail had gone cold.
Wordfinder
- chase
- falconry
- game
- hunt
- open season
- pack
- poach
- prey
- safari
- trail
see also vapour trail
Extra Examples
- Ants follow a scent trail laid down previously.
- The dog had picked up the trail of a rabbit.
- The fox had crossed a stream, and the hounds lost the trail.
- Detectives had found several new clues and were back on the murderer's trail.
- The couple laid a false trail to escape the press photographers.
- They had to find the kidnappers before the trail went cold.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adjective
- scent
- blood
- smoke
- …
verb + trail
- lay
- leave
- make
- …
trail + verb
- go cold
preposition
- on somebody’s trail
phrases
- a trail of blood
- a trail of devastation
- a trail of smoke
- …
See full entry
a path through the countryside
- a trail through the forest
see also national trail, nature trail
Extra Examples
- We set off to walk the trail that winds along the Colorado River.
- The trail was covered with deep snow.
- The Norfolk Coast path is part of a National Trail.
- The Appalachian Trail runs from Maine to Georgia.
- A woodland trail leads off to the right.
- The trail wends its way through leafy woodland and sunny meadows.
Topics Hobbiesc1
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adjective
- forest
- mountain
- nature
- …
verb + trail
- follow
- hit
- take
- …
trail + verb
- go
- lead
- run
- …
preposition
- along a/the trail
See full entry
a route that is followed for a particular purpose
- a tourist trail (= of famous buildings)
- politicians on the campaign trail (= travelling around to attract support)
Extra Examples
- In 1967 she hit the hippy trail to India.
- We did the Inca trail.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adjective
- forest
- mountain
- nature
- …
verb + trail
- follow
- hit
- take
- …
trail + verb
- go
- lead
- run
- …
preposition
- along a/the trail
See full entry

trail

verb

/treɪl/

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they trail	/treɪl/ /treɪl/
he / she / it trails	/treɪlz/ /treɪlz/
past simple trailed	/treɪld/ /treɪld/
past participle trailed	/treɪld/ /treɪld/
-ing form trailing	/ˈtreɪlɪŋ/ /ˈtreɪlɪŋ/

Phrasal Verbs

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[transitive, intransitive] to pull something behind somebody/something, usually along the ground; to be pulled along in this way
- trail something A jeep trailing a cloud of dust was speeding in my direction.
- I trailed my hand in the water as the boat moved along.
- (+ adv./prep.) The bride's dress trailed behind her.
Extra Examples
- The little boy trailed a dirty old blanket behind him.
- Don't let the blanket trail on the ground.
- Her scarf was trailing in the mud.
[intransitive] + adv./prep. to walk slowly because you are tired or bored, especially behind somebody else; to go from one place to another without enthusiasm
- The kids trailed around after us while we shopped for clothes.
Extra Examples
- I trailed wearily after the others.
- The last walkers came trailing down the hill.
- We walked home in the rain, with the kids trailing along behind.
- They spent their lives trailing around the country.
- I spent months trailing from one audition to the next.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adverb
- slowly
- wearily
- closely (behind)
- …
preposition
- after
- around
- round
- …
See full entry
[intransitive, transitive] (used especially in the progressive tenses) to be losing a game or other contest
- United were trailing 2–0 at half-time.
- trail by something We were trailing by five points.
- trail in something This country is still trailing badly in scientific research.
- trail somebody/something The Conservatives are trailing Labour in the opinion polls.
Extra Examples
- Liverpool are now trailing badly in the league.
- They were trailing by 12 points until the last few minutes of the game.
- Lazio were trailing to a 47th-minute goal by Roma.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adverb
- badly
- slightly
preposition
- by
See full entry
[transitive] trail somebody/something to follow somebody/something by looking for signs that show you where they have been
- The police trailed Dale for days.
- They spent three hours trailing a deer through the woods.
- Sharks were trailing the ship.
[intransitive] to grow or hang downwards over something or along the ground; to move downwards over something
- trailing plants
- He had tears trailing down his cheeks.
[transitive] trail something to advertise a film, TV programme, etc. in advance
- It was trailed heavily as the Big Film of the New Year.