trail

trail
trail1 [ treıl ] noun count **
▸ 1 path in countryside
▸ 2 series of marks/objects
▸ 3 damage/harm
▸ 4 connected evidence
▸ 5 series of activities
▸ + PHRASES
1. ) a path through the countryside, especially one designed for walking for pleasure:
The trail led down to the lake.
follow a trail: We were following the winding trail into the mountains.
2. ) a series of marks or objects left by someone or something that shows they have been there:
trail of: a trail of blood
leave a trail: He left a trail of muddy footprints.
follow a trail: We followed the trail of ribbon he had tied to the trees.
a ) a smell or series of marks left by an animal:
follow a trail: Dogs can follow a bear's trail for several miles.
3. ) trail of damage or harm caused by something bad:
Hurricane Andrew left a trail of destruction along the coast.
a ) a series of bad or harmful events:
a trail of murders/robberies
4. ) many pieces of connected evidence that prove someone did something wrong or illegal:
The trail of missing funds led investigators directly to Wang.
on the trail of someone: Detectives are on the trail of a serial killer.
=> PAPER TRAIL
5. ) MAINLY JOURNALISM a series of activities that you do in order to achieve something:
the campaign/election trail: The usual pack of reporters were following Bush on the campaign trail.
hit the trail (=begin to try to achieve something): With their latest victory, the Yankees have clearly hit the pennant trail.
blaze a trail
1. ) to go to a place where no one has gone before
2. ) to discover something new
(hot) on the trail of
very close to finding someone or discovering something
trail
trail 2 [ treıl ] verb **
▸ 1 be losing in competition
▸ 2 pull something behind you
▸ 3 move slowly
▸ 4 follow someone
▸ 5 leave marks etc.
▸ 6 when something hangs down
▸ + PHRASES
1. ) intransitive or transitive MAINLY JOURNALISM to be losing in a competition or election:
A recent poll shows the Democrats trailing the Republicans.
trail by: At the end of the round, Garcia trailed by two strokes.
2. ) intransitive or transitive to pull something behind you, or be pulled behind someone or something:
Trailing his coat in the dirt, he turned toward home.
3. ) intransitive trail after/behind/around to move slowly and in a tired or unhappy way, often so that you are a short distance behind other people:
My husband usually trails glumly behind me when I shop.
4. ) transitive to follow someone secretly in order to learn something about them:
Detectives trailed Evans for weeks.
5. ) transitive to leave marks on a surface or a substance in the air as you go through a place:
The dogs came in, trailing mud everywhere.
a jeep trailing clouds of dust
a ) intransitive trail across/over/along if a line of marks or long thin objects trail across a place, they are left there by someone or something:
Old cables and wires trailed across the garden.
6. ) intransitive or transitive if something trails somewhere, it hangs down from something:
geraniums trailing from terra-cotta pots
,trail a`way or ,trail `off phrasal verb intransitive
if someone's voice or words trail away or trail off, they gradually become silent:
Her voice trailed off as she realized he wasn't listening.

Usage of the words and phrases in modern English. 2013.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат
Synonyms:

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

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”