- trail
- trail1 [ treıl ] noun count **▸ 1 path in countryside▸ 2 series of marks/objects▸ 3 damage/harm▸ 4 connected evidence▸ 5 series of activities▸ + PHRASES1. ) 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 bloodleave 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/robberies4. ) 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 TRAIL5. ) 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 trail1. ) to go to a place where no one has gone before2. ) to discover something new(hot) on the trail ofvery close to finding someone or discovering somethingtrailtrail 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▸ + PHRASES1. ) 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 dusta ) 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 intransitiveif 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.