trail

• POS: Noun, Verb (usu participle), Verb (intransitive), Verb (transitive)

CIDE DICTIONARY

trail, v. t. [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 derivative of L. trahere to draw; cf. L. traha a drag, sledge, tragula a kind of drag net, a small sledge, Sp. trailla a leash, an instrument for leveling the ground, D. treilen to draw with a rope, to tow, treil a rope for drawing a boat. See Trace, v. t.].

•  To hunt by the track; to track.  Halliwell.  [1913 Webster]
•  To draw or drag, as along the ground.  [1913 Webster]

  "And hung his head, and trailed his legs along."  [1913 Webster]

  "They shall not trail me through their streets
  Like a wild beast."  [1913 Webster]

  "Long behind he trails his pompous robe."  [1913 Webster]
•  To carry, as a firearm, with the breech near the ground and the upper part inclined forward, the piece being held by the right hand near the middle.  [1913 Webster]
•  To tread down, as grass, by walking through it; to lay flat.  Longfellow.  [1913 Webster]
•  To take advantage of the ignorance of; to impose upon.  [1913 Webster]

  "I presently perceived she was (what is vernacularly termed) trailing Mrs. Dent; that is, playing on her ignorance."  [1913 Webster]

trail, v. i. 

•  To be drawn out in length; to follow after.  [1913 Webster]

  "When his brother saw the red blood trail."  [1913 Webster]
•  To grow to great length, especially when slender and creeping upon the ground, as a plant; to run or climb.  [1913 Webster]

trail, n. 

•  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."  [1913 Webster]

  "How cheerfully on the false trail they cry!"  [1913 Webster]
•  A footpath or road track through a wilderness or wild region; as, an Indian trail over the plains.  [1913 Webster]
•  Anything drawn out to a length; as, the trail of a meteor; a trail of smoke.  [1913 Webster]

  "When lightning shoots in glittering trails along."  [1913 Webster]
•  Anything drawn behind in long undulations; a train.  Pope.  [1913 Webster]
•  Anything drawn along, as a vehicle.  [1913 Webster]
•  A frame for trailing plants; a trellis.  [1913 Webster]
•  The entrails of a fowl, especially of game, as the woodcock, and the like; -- applied also, sometimes, to the entrails of sheep.  [1913 Webster]

  "The woodcock is a favorite with epicures, and served with its trail in, is a delicious dish."  [1913 Webster]
•  That part of the stock of a gun carriage which rests on the ground when the piece is unlimbered. See Illust. of Gun carriage, under Gun.  [1913 Webster]
•  The act of taking advantage of the ignorance of a person; an imposition.  [1913 Webster]

Trail boards (Shipbuilding), the carved boards on both sides of the cutwater near the figurehead. -- Trail net, a net that is trailed or drawn behind a boat. Wright.

OXFORD DICTIONARY

trail, 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.

Idiom

at 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.

Etymology

ME (earlier as verb) f. OF traillier to tow, or f. MLG treilen haul f. L tragula drag-net

THESAURUS

trail

afterclap, aftercrop, aftereffect, afterglow, aftergrowth, afterimage, aftermath, afterpart, afterpiece, aftertaste, alameda, aroma, attend, back, back up, bag, beat, beaten path, beaten track, bedog, berm, bicycle path, boardwalk, breath, bridle path, cascade, catwalk, chase, chivy, come after, come behind, come last, condensation trail, contrail, course, daggle, dally, dangle, dawdle, decrease, definite odor, delay, depend, detectable odor, die out, dillydally, diminish, disappear, displace, dog, drabble, drag, drag along, draggle, drape, draw, drive, droop, dwindle, effluvium, emanate, emanation, ensue, esplanade, essence, exhalation, fade away, fade out, falcon, fall, fall astern, fall back, fall behind, falter, fastwalk, flag, flap, flavor, flop, flow, flush, follow, follow a clue, follow after, follow the hounds, follow up, foot pavement, footpath, footprints, footsteps, footway, fowl, fragrance, fume, garden path, get behind, go after, go back, go backwards, go behind, go hunting, goof off, groove, grow dim, gun, hale, halt, hang, hang back, hang down, haul, hawk, heave, heel, hiking trail, hound, hunt, hunt down, issue, jack, jacklight, lag, lag behind, lessen, line, linger, linger behind, loiter, lollygag, lop, lug, mall, move, move behind, nod, nose, nose out, odor, overtake, parade, path, pathway, pend, peter out, piste, plod, poke, prado, procrastinate, promenade, prowl after, public walk, pull, pursue, queue, redolence, regress, replace, result, retrogress, revert, ride to hounds, route, run, run down, run to earth, runway, rut, sag, savor, scent, shadow, shikar, shilly-shally, shoot, sidewalk, signs, smell, smell out, snake, sniff out, spoor, sport, stalk, start, stench, still-hunt, straggle, stream, string along, subside, subtle odor, succeed, supervene, swag, sweep, swing, tab, tag, tag after, tag along, tail, tailgate, tailpiece, take in tow, taper off, tarry, tow, towing path, towpath, trace, trace down, traces, track, track down, trail after, trail behind, trailer, train, traipse, trawl, tread close upon, troll, trottoir, trudge, tug, vapor trail, wake, walk, walkway, waste time, way, weaken, weep, whiff

ROGET THESAURUS

trail

Sequel

N sequel, suffix, successor, tail, queue, train, wake, trail, rear, retinue, suite, appendix, postscript, epilogue, peroration, codicil, continuation, sequela, appendage, tail piece, heelpiece, tag, more last words, colophon, aftercome, aftergrowth, afterpart, afterpiece, aftercourse, afterthought, aftergame, arriere pensee, second thoughts, outgrowth.

Pendency

VB be pendent, hang, depend, swing, dangle, swag, daggle, flap, trail, flow, beetle, suspend, hang, sling, hook up, hitch, fasten to, append.

Slowness

VB move slowly, creep, crawl, lag, slug, drawl, linger, loiter, saunter, plod, trudge, stump along, lumber, trail, drag, dawdle, grovel, worm one's way, steal along, job on, rub on, bundle on, toddle, waddle, wabble, slug, traipse, slouch, shuffle, halt, hobble, limp, caludicate, shamble, flag, falter, trotter, stagger, mince, step short, march in slow time, march in funeral procession, take one's time, hang fire, retard, relax, slacken, check, moderate, rein in, curb, reef, strike sail, shorten sail, take in sail, put on the drag, apply the brake, clip the wings, reduce the speed, slacken speed, slacken one's pace, lose ground.

Traction

VB draw, pull, haul, lug, rake, drag, tug, tow, trail, train, take in tow, wrench, jerk, twitch, touse, yank.

Odor

N odor, smell, odorament, scent, effluvium, emanation, exhalation, fume, essence, trail, nidor, redolence, sense of smell, scent, act of smelling, olfaction, olfactories, fragrance, odorant, bloodhound, hound, spoor, odorous, odoriferous, smelling, reeking, foul-smelling, strong- scented, redolent, graveolent, nidorous, pungent, putrid, foul, olfactory, quick-scented.

Inquiry

VB make inquiry, inquire, ask, seek, search, look for, look about for, look out for, scan, reconnoiter, explore, sound, rummage, ransack, pry, peer, look round, look over, go over, look through, go through, spy, overhaul, ask about, inquire about, scratch the head, slap the forehead, look into every hole and corner, peer into every hole and corner, pry into every hole and corner, nose, trace up, search out, hunt down, hunt out, fish out, ferret out, unearth, leave no stone unturned, seek a clue, seek a clew, hunt, track, trail, mouse, dodge, trace, follow the trail, follow the scent, pursue, beat up one's quarters, fish for, feel for, investigate, take up an inquiry, institute an inquiry, pursue an inquiry, follow up an inquiry, conduct an inquiry, carry on an inquiry, carry out an inquiry, prosecute an inquiry, look at, look into, preexamine, discuss, canvass, agitate, examine, study, consider, calculate, dip into, dive into, delve into, go deep into, make sure of, probe, sound, fathom, probe to the bottom, probe to the quick, scrutinize, analyze, anatomize, dissect, parse, resolve, sift, winnow, view in all its phases, try in all its phases, thresh out, bring in question, bring into question, subject to examination, put to the proof, audit, tax, pass in review, take into consideration, take counsel, question, demand, put the question, pop the question, propose the question, propound the question, moot the question, start the question, raise the question, stir the question, suggest the question, put forth the question, ventilate the question, grapple with the question, go into a question, question, put to the question, interrogate, pump, subject to interrogation, subject to examination, cross-question, cross-examine, press for an answer, give the third degree, put to the inquisition, dodge, catechize, require an answer, pick the brains of, suck the brains of, feel the pulse, get the lay of the land, see how the wind is blowing, put one's ear to the ground, be in question, undergo examination.

Record

N record, trace, vestige, relic, remains, scar, cicatrix, footstep, footmark, footprint, pug, track mark, wake, trail, scent, piste, monument, hatchment, slab, tablet, trophy, achievement, obelisk, pillar, column, monolith, memorial, memento, testimonial, medal, commemoration, record, note, minute, register, registry, roll, cartulary, diptych, Domesday book, catalogue raisonne, entry, memorandum, indorsement, inscription, copy, duplicate, docket, notch, muniment, deed, document, deposition, proces verbal, affidavit, certificate, notebook, memorandum book, memo book, pocketbook, commonplace book, portfolio, pigeonholes, excerpta, adversaria, jottings, dottings, gazette, gazetteer, newspaper, daily, magazine, almanac, almanack, calendar, ephemeris, diary, log, journal, daybook, ledger, cashbook, petty cashbook, professional journal, scientific literature, the literature, primary literature, secondary literature, article, review article, archive, scroll, state paper, return, blue book, statistics, compte rendu, Acts of, Transactions of, Proceedings of, Hansard's Debates, chronicle, annals, legend, history, biography, Congressional Records, registration, registry, enrollment, inrollment, tabulation, entry, booking, signature, recorder, journalism, recording, tape recording, videotape, compact disk, floppy disk, diskette, hard disk, Winchester disk, read-only memory, ROM, write once read mostly memory, WORM, on record, exegi monumentum aere perennium, read their history in a nation's eyes, records that defy the tooth of time.