transcription, транскрипция: [ teɪl ]
( tails, tailing, tailed)
Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English.
1.
The tail of an animal, bird, or fish is the part extending beyond the end of its body.
...a black dog with a long tail.
N-COUNT
• -tailed
...white-tailed deer.
COMB in ADJ
2.
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...
N-COUNT : usu with supp
3.
If a man is wearing tails , he is wearing a formal jacket which has two long pieces hanging down at the back.
N-PLURAL
4.
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...
He trusted her so little that he had her tailed.
= shadow
VERB : V n , have n V-ed
5.
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.
ADV : ADV after v
6.
If you say that you have your tail between your legs , you are emphasizing that you feel defeated and ashamed.
His team retreated last night with tails tucked firmly between their legs.
PHRASE : PHR after v , with PHR [ emphasis ]
7.
cannot make head or tail of something : see head