~ 1 [ reɪl ]
■ noun
1》 a bar or bars fixed on upright supports or attached to a wall or ceiling, serving as part of a fence or barrier or used to hang things on.
2》 a steel bar or line of bars laid on the ground as one of a pair forming a ~way track.
3》 ~ways as a means of transport.
4》 a horizontal piece in the frame of a panelled door or sash window. Compare with stile 2 .
5》 the edge of a surfboard or sailboard.
6》 Electronics a conductor which is maintained at a fixed potential and to which other parts of a circuit are connected.
■ verb
1》 provide or enclose with a ~ or ~s.
2》 convey (goods) by ~.
3》 (in windsurfing) sail the board on its edge.
Phrases
go off the ~s informal begin behaving in an uncontrolled way.
on the ~s
1》 informal functioning in a normal or regulated way.
2》 (of a racehorse or jockey) in a position on the racetrack nearest the inside fence.
Derivatives
~age noun
~less adjective
Origin
ME: from OFr. reille 'iron rod', from L. regula 'straight stick, rule'.
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~ 2
■ verb ( ~ against/at ) complain or protest strongly about or to.
Derivatives
~er noun
Origin
ME: from Fr. ~ler , from Provençal ralhar 'to jest', based on an alt. of L. rugire 'to bellow'.
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~ 3
■ noun a secretive waterside bird with typically drab grey and brown plumage. [ Rallus and other genera, family Rallidae.]
Origin
ME: from Old North. Fr. ~le , perh. imitative.