treɪl n. & v. --n. 1 a a track left by a
thing,
person,
etc.,
moving over a
surface (left a trail of
wreckage; a slug's
slimy trail). b a track or
scent followed in
hunting, seeking, etc. (he's on
the trail). 2 a
beaten path or track,
esp.
through a
wild region. 3 a
part dragging
behind a thing or person; an
appendage (a trail of
smoke; a
condensation trail). 4 the rear
end of a gun-carriage
stock. --v. 1 tr. & intr.
draw or be
drawn along behind, esp. on the ground. 2 intr. (often foll. by behind)
walk wearily; lag;
straggle. 3 tr.
follow the trail
of;
pursue (trailed
him to
his home). 4 intr. be losing in a game or
other contest (trailing by
three points). 5 intr. (usu. foll. by
away, off) peter
out; tail
off. 6 intr. a (of a
plant etc.)
grow or
hang over a
wall, along the ground etc. b (of a
garment etc.) hang loosely. 7 tr. (often refl.)
drag (oneself, one's limbs, etc.) along wearily etc. 8 tr.
advertise (a
film, a
radio or
television programme, etc.) in
advance by
showing extracts etc. 9 tr.
apply (slip) through a
nozzle or
spout to
decorate ceramic ware. øat the trail
Mil.
with arms trailed. trail arms Mil. let a rifle etc. hang balanced in
one hand and,
Brit.,
parallel to the ground. trail
bike a
light motor cycle for use in
rough terrain. trail-blazer 1 a person
who marks a
new track through wild
country. 2 a
pioneer; an innovator. trail-blazing n. the
act or process of blazing a trail. --attrib.adj.
that blazes a trail; pioneering. trail one's
coat deliberately
provoke a quarrel,
fight, etc. trailing
edge 1 the rear edge of an aircraft's
wing etc. 2
Electronics the part of a pulse in
which the
amplitude diminishes (opp. leading edge (see LEADING(1))). trailing
wheel a wheel
not given direct motive power. trail-net a drag-net. [ME (earlier as verb) f. OF traillier to tow, or f. MLG treilen
haul f. L tragula drag-net]