TRAIL


Meaning of TRAIL in English

/ treɪl; NAmE / noun , verb

■ noun

1.

a long line or series of marks that is left by sb/sth :

a trail of blood

tourists who leave a trail of litter everywhere they go

The hurricane left a trail of destruction behind it.

2.

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.

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 .

3.

a path through the countryside :

a trail through the forest

—see also nature trail

4.

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)

IDIOMS

see blaze verb , hit verb , hot adjective

■ verb

1.

to pull sth behind sb/sth, usually along the ground; to be pulled along in this way :

[ vn ]

A jeep trailing a cloud of dust was speeding in my direction.

I trailed my hand in the water as the boat moved along.

[ v , usually + adv. / prep. ]

The bride's dress trailed behind her.

2.

[ v + adv. / prep. ] to walk slowly because you are tired or bored, especially behind sb else :

The kids trailed around after us while we shopped for clothes.

3.

trail (by / in sth) (used especially in the progressive tenses) to be losing a game or other contest :

[ v ]

United were trailing 2–0 at half-time.

We were trailing by five points.

This country is still trailing badly in scientific research.

[ vn ]

The Conservatives are trailing Labour in the opinion polls.

4.

[ vn ] to follow sb/sth by looking for signs that show you where they have been :

The police trailed Dale for days.

5.

[ v ] ( especially of plants ) to grow or hang downwards over sth or along the ground :

trailing plants

Computer wires were trailing all over the floor.

PHRASAL VERBS

- trail away / off

••

WORD ORIGIN

Middle English (as a verb): from Old French traillier to tow, or Middle Low German treilen haul a boat, based on Latin tragula dragnet, from trahere to pull. Compare with trawl . The noun originally denoted the train of a robe, later generalized to denote something trailing.

Oxford Advanced Learner's English Dictionary.      Оксфордский английский словарь для изучающик язык на продвинутом уровне.