trail

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 or tow

2.

a) to make or mark (a path, track, etc.), as by treading down

b) to make a path in (grass, etc.)

3. to follow the tracks of; track

4. to hunt by tracking

5.

a) to follow behind, esp. in a lagging manner

b) to be or lag behind, as in a contest

6. Mil. to carry (a rifle, etc.) in the right hand with the arm extended downward so that the muzzle is tilted forward and the butt is near the ground

vi.

1. to hang down, esp. behind, so as to drag on the ground, etc.

2. to grow so long as to extend along the ground, over rocks, etc.: said of some plants

3. to extend in an irregular line; straggle

4. to flow behind in a long, thin stream, wisp, etc. [smoke trailed from the chimney]

5. to move, walk, go along, etc. wearily, heavily, or slowly; crawl; drag

6.

a) to follow or lag behind

b) to be losing, as in a sports contest [to trail by 13 points]

7. to track game: said of hounds

8. to grow gradually weaker, dimmer, less direct, etc.: with off or away

n.

[ME traille < MFr < the v.]

1. something that trails or is trailed behind

2. a mark, footprint, scent, etc. left by a person, animal, or thing that has passed

3.

☆ a) a path or track made by repeated passage or deliberately blazed

b) a paved or maintained path or track, as for bicycling or hiking

4. a series of events or conditions following something; train [an illness bringing debts in its trail]

5. Mil.

a) the position of trailing a rifle

b) a beamlike part of a gun carriage, which may be lowered to the ground to form a rear brace

trailingly

adv.