/ 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.