Englishئاساسىي لۇغەت
trail
Universal Words
noun, verb
noun
1 a long line or series of marks that is left by sth as it moves and that shows where it has been:
a trail of blood / footprints * tourists who leave a trail of litter everywhere they go * The hurricane left a 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
seealsoNATURETRAIL
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 BLAZEv., HITv., HOTadj.
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 ~ (by / in sth) (used especially in the progressive tenses) to be losing a game or other contest:
[V] United were trailing 20 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. * We could smell the scent of a fox as we trailed paw marks through the wood.
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.
PHRASALVERBS
trail away / off (of sb's speech) to become gradually quieter and then stop:
His voice trailed away to nothing. * [+speech] 'I only hope...' She trailed off.
