trail

trail
1 verb
1 (intransitive, transitive always + adv/prep) if something trails behind you, or if you trail it behind you, it gets pulled behind you as you move along
(+ across/in/through): She walked slowly along the path, her skirt trailing in the mud. | trail sth in/on/through: Rees was leaning out of the boat trailing his hand through the water.
2 also trail along (intransitive always + adv/prep) to walk slowly, especially because you are tired or bored, and often following other people
(+ behind/around): Susie trailed along behind her parents.
3 (intransitive, transitive usually in progressive) to be losing in a game, competition, or election: The Democrats are still trailing in the latest poll. | trail (sb) by: At the end of the first half Bolton were trailing by two goals to nil.
4 (T) to follow a person or animal by looking for signs that they have gone in a particular direction: Police trailed the gang for several days.
—see also: trailer trail away/off phrasal verb (I) if someone's voice trails away or off, it becomes gradually quieter and then stops: She trailed off, silenced by the look Kris gave her. 2 noun (C)
1 be on sb's trail to be finding out where someone has gone in order to find or catch them: Police believe they are on the trail of a dangerous killer. | be hard/hot on sb's trail (=be close to finding someone you are trying to catch)
2 while the trail is still hot if you chase someone while the trail is still hot, you follow them soon after they have left
3 the track or smell of a person or animal by which it can be hunted or followed: The hunters lost the tiger's trail in the middle of the jungle.
4 a rough path across open country or through a forest: The trail led over Boulder Pass before descending to a lake.
5 trail of blood/dust etc a line or series of marks left by someone or something that is moving: They left a trail of muddy footprints on the living room carpet. | trail of destruction (=damage left by a moving storm or army)
6 a trail of broken hearts/unpaid bills etc humorous a series of unhappy people or bad situations all caused by the same person: He left a trail of broken hearts, of deserted women behind him.
—see also: blaze a trail blaze 1 (4)

Longman dictionary of contemporary English. 2004.

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Synonyms:
, , , , , / , , , , (as a plant), , , , , , , , / , , / (made by Indians) / (as of fowl or of sheep)


Look at other dictionaries:

  • trail — Ⅰ. trail UK US /treɪl/ verb ► [I or T] to be less successful than competitors or than expected: » This company s shares have left most rivals trailing. »Precious metal stocks trailed, at 124.35. trail behind sth »Prices of mortgage backed… …   Financial and business terms

  • Trail — Trail, n. 1. A track left by man or beast; a track followed by the hunter; a scent on the ground by the animal pursued; as, a deer trail. [1913 Webster] They traveled in the bed of the brook, leaving no dangerous trail. Cooper. [1913 Webster] How …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Trail — steht für: einen schmalen Weg, siehe Trampelpfad einen schmalen Pfad im Mountainbike Sport, siehe Singletrail Laufen abseits befestigter Straßen, siehe Traillauf, eine Disziplin im Reitsport, siehe Westernreiten ein Plattenlabel, siehe Trail… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Trail — (tr[=a]l), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Trailed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Trailing}.] [OE. trailen, OF. trailler to trail a deer, or hunt him upon a cold scent, also, to hunt or pursue him with a limehound, F. trailler to trail a fishing line; probably from a… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • trail — [ trɛ(j)l ] n. m. • v. 1985; de l angl. trail bike (1969) « moto de motocross », de trail « piste, sentier » ♦ Anglic. Moto légère, polyvalente, dotée de suspensions à grand débattement. Des trails. ● trail nom masculin (anglais trail, piste)… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • trail — ► NOUN 1) a mark or a series of signs left behind by the passage of someone or something. 2) a track or scent used in following someone or hunting an animal. 3) a long thin part stretching behind or hanging down from something. 4) a beaten path… …   English terms dictionary

  • Trail — Trail, v. i. 1. To be drawn out in length; to follow after. [1913 Webster] When his brother saw the red blood trail. Spenser. [1913 Webster] 2. To grow to great length, especially when slender and creeping upon the ground, as a plant; to run or… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Trail — Trail, MN U.S. city in Minnesota Population (2000): 62 Housing Units (2000): 35 Land area (2000): 0.992799 sq. miles (2.571337 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km) Total area (2000): 0.992799 sq. miles (2.571337 sq. km) …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • Trail, MN — U.S. city in Minnesota Population (2000): 62 Housing Units (2000): 35 Land area (2000): 0.992799 sq. miles (2.571337 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km) Total area (2000): 0.992799 sq. miles (2.571337 sq. km) FIPS code …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • trail — [trāl] vt. [ME trailen < MFr trailler < VL * tragulare < L tragula, small sledge, dragnet < trahere, to DRAW] 1. a) to drag or let drag behind one, esp. on the ground, etc. b) to bring along behind [trailing exhaust fumes] c) to pull… …   English World dictionary

  • trail — [n] path, track aisle, beaten track*, byway, footpath, footprints, footsteps, groove*, mark, marks, pathway, road, route, rut, scent, spoor, stream, stroll, tail, trace, train, wake, way; concept 501 trail [v] lag behind, follow bedog, bring up… …   New thesaurus

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