(~s, ~ing, ~ed)
Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English.
1.
The ~ of an animal, bird, or fish is the part extending beyond the end of its body.
...a black dog with a long ~.
N-COUNT
-~ed
...white-~ed deer.
COMB in ADJ
2.
You can use ~ to refer to the end or back of something, especially something long and thin.
...the horizontal stabilizer bar on the plane’s ~...
N-COUNT: usu with supp
3.
If a man is wearing ~s, he is wearing a formal jacket which has two long pieces hanging down at the back.
N-PLURAL
4.
To ~ someone means to follow close behind them and watch where they go and what they do. (INFORMAL)
Officers had ~ed the gang from London during a major undercover inquiry...
He trusted her so little that he had her ~ed.
= shadow
VERB: V n, have n V-ed
5.
If you toss a coin and it comes down ~s, 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 ~ between your legs, you are emphasizing that you feel defeated and ashamed.
His team retreated last night with ~s tucked firmly between their legs.
PHRASE: PHR after v, with PHR emphasis
7.
cannot make head or ~ of something : see head