trail
♦ trail /tr'eɪl/ (trails trailing trailed)
1 [N-COUNT]
A trail is a rough path across open country or through forests.
He was following a broad trail through the trees.
= track
2 [N-COUNT]
A trail is a route along a series of paths or roads, often one that has been planned and marked out for a particular purpose.
...a large area of woodland with hiking and walking trails.
3 [N-COUNT] usu sing, oft N of n
A trail is a series of marks or other signs of movement or other activities left by someone or something.
Everywhere in the house was a sticky trail of orange juice...
4 [VERB] V n, V n prep/adv
If you trail someone or something, you follow them secretly, often by finding the marks or signs that they have left.
Two detectives were trailing him...
I trailed her to a shop in Kensington.
= follow
5 [N-COUNT] n N
You can refer to all the places that a politician visits in the period before an election as their campaign trail.
During a recent speech on the campaign trail, he was interrupted by hecklers.
6 [VERB] V n, V prep
If you trail something or it trails, it hangs down loosely behind you as you move along.
She came down the stairs slowly, trailing the coat behind her...
He let his fingers trail in the water.
7 [VERB] V adv/prep
If someone trails somewhere, they move there slowly, without any energy or enthusiasm, often following someone else.
He trailed through the wet Manhattan streets...
8 [VERB] usu cont, V amount, V behind n
If a person or team in a sports match or other contest is trailing, they have a lower score than their opponents.
He scored again, leaving Dartford trailing 3-0 at the break...
The polls showed the Tories trailing behind the Government by 17 per cent.
9 [PHRASE] usu v-link PHR
If you are on the trail of a person or thing, you are trying hard to find them or find out about them.
The police were hot on his trail...
10
to blaze a trail: see blaze
see also nature trail, paper trailna|ture trail (nature trails)
[N-COUNT]
A nature trail is a route through an area of countryside which has signs drawing attention to interesting animals, plants, or rocks.pa|per trail
[N-SING]
Documents which provide evidence of someone's activities can be referred to as a paper trail. (mainly AM)
Criminals are very reluctant to leave a paper trail.trail off
or trail away
[PHRASAL VERB] V P
If a speaker's voice or a speaker trails off or trails away, their voice becomes quieter and they hesitate until they stop speaking completely.
`But he had no reason. He of all men...' Kate's voice trailed off.
= tail awayva|pour trail (vapour trails)
in AM, use vapor trail
[N-COUNT]
A vapour trail is a white line of water vapour left in the sky by an aeroplane, a rocket, or a missile.
1 [N-COUNT]
A trail is a rough path across open country or through forests.
He was following a broad trail through the trees.
= track
2 [N-COUNT]
A trail is a route along a series of paths or roads, often one that has been planned and marked out for a particular purpose.
...a large area of woodland with hiking and walking trails.
3 [N-COUNT] usu sing, oft N of n
A trail is a series of marks or other signs of movement or other activities left by someone or something.
Everywhere in the house was a sticky trail of orange juice...
4 [VERB] V n, V n prep/adv
If you trail someone or something, you follow them secretly, often by finding the marks or signs that they have left.
Two detectives were trailing him...
I trailed her to a shop in Kensington.
= follow
5 [N-COUNT] n N
You can refer to all the places that a politician visits in the period before an election as their campaign trail.
During a recent speech on the campaign trail, he was interrupted by hecklers.
6 [VERB] V n, V prep
If you trail something or it trails, it hangs down loosely behind you as you move along.
She came down the stairs slowly, trailing the coat behind her...
He let his fingers trail in the water.
7 [VERB] V adv/prep
If someone trails somewhere, they move there slowly, without any energy or enthusiasm, often following someone else.
He trailed through the wet Manhattan streets...
8 [VERB] usu cont, V amount, V behind n
If a person or team in a sports match or other contest is trailing, they have a lower score than their opponents.
He scored again, leaving Dartford trailing 3-0 at the break...
The polls showed the Tories trailing behind the Government by 17 per cent.
9 [PHRASE] usu v-link PHR
If you are on the trail of a person or thing, you are trying hard to find them or find out about them.
The police were hot on his trail...
10
to blaze a trail: see blaze
see also nature trail, paper trailna|ture trail (nature trails)
[N-COUNT]
A nature trail is a route through an area of countryside which has signs drawing attention to interesting animals, plants, or rocks.pa|per trail
[N-SING]
Documents which provide evidence of someone's activities can be referred to as a paper trail. (mainly AM)
Criminals are very reluctant to leave a paper trail.trail off
or trail away
[PHRASAL VERB] V P
If a speaker's voice or a speaker trails off or trails away, their voice becomes quieter and they hesitate until they stop speaking completely.
`But he had no reason. He of all men...' Kate's voice trailed off.
= tail awayva|pour trail (vapour trails)
in AM, use vapor trail
[N-COUNT]
A vapour trail is a white line of water vapour left in the sky by an aeroplane, a rocket, or a missile.