trail

Study(29)

/tɹeɪl/

verb 5noun 5name 3

Collocations

(noun.) line/smell that sb/sth leaves behind

ADJ

scent

The dog picked up a fresh scent trail and ran toward the woods.

blood, smoke, vapour | thin | muddy | false

VERB + TRAIL

lay, leave, make

The hikers made a trail through the forest so others could follow them safely.

pick up

The detective picked up the trail again after finding a new witness.

lose

The detective lost the trail when the suspect disappeared into the crowded shopping mall.

TRAIL + VERB

go cold

The police worked quickly because they knew the suspect's trail would go cold if they waited too long.

PREP

on sb's ~

The police are on the suspect's trail after discovering evidence at the crime scene.

PHRASES

a trail of blood, a trail of devastation

The injured animal left a trail of blood across the forest floor.

a trail of smoke

(noun.) path/route

ADJ

forest, nature, woodland | 10-kilometre, 5-mile, etc. | cycle, mountain bike, tourist, walking

hippy, tourist

We discovered a charming village that wasn't on the usual tourist trail.

campaign, comeback, winning

The struggling band is finally on the winning trail with their new album.

VERB + TRAIL

follow, hit

After university, many young people follow the backpacker trail through Southeast Asia.

be on

Police are on the trail of the bank robbers who disappeared last week.

TRAIL + VERB

go, lead, wend its way

The hiking trail goes up the mountain and ends at a beautiful viewpoint.

PREP

along a/the ~

(verb.) move/walk slowly

ADV

slowly | wearily

PREP

after

The little dog happily trailed after its owner through the park.

around/round

The hikers trailed around the mountain for hours before finding the main path.

(along) behind

(verb.) have a lower score than the other player/team

ADV

badly

The home team was trailing badly by halftime, down 3-0 against their rivals.

PREP

The home team was trailing by three goals when they scored twice in the final minutes.

Definitions

verb

To follow behind (someone or something); to tail (someone or something).

The hunters trailed their prey deep into the woods.

To drag (something) behind on the ground.

You'll get your coat all muddy if you trail it around like that.

Our little life is but a gust That bends the branches of thy tree, And trails its blossoms in the dust!

To leave (a trail of).

He walked into the house, soaking wet, and trailed water all over the place.

To show a trailer of (a film, TV show etc.); to release or publish a preview of (a report etc.) in advance of the full publication.

His new film was trailed on TV last night.

There were no surprises in this morning's much-trailed budget statement.

To hang or drag loosely behind; to move with a slow sweeping motion.

The bride's long dress trailed behind her as she walked down the aisle.

Even now I behold a sign, A threatening of wrath divine, A watery, wandering star, through whose streaming hair, and the white Unfolding garments of light, That trail behind it afar, The constellations shine!

noun

The track or indication marking the route followed by something that has passed, such as the footprints of animal on land or the contrail of an airplane in the sky.

trail of blood

condensation trail

A route for travel over land, especially a narrow, unpaved pathway for use by hikers, horseback riders, etc.

A route or circuit generally.

Politicians are on the campaign trail in preparation for this year's election.

A trailer broadcast on television for a forthcoming film or programme.

A walk in which all the edges are distinct.

name

A city in British Columbia, Canada.

A city in Polk County, Minnesota, United States.

A census-designated place in Jackson County, Oregon, United States.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

noun — evidence pointing to a possible solution

verb — drag loosely along a surface

train

verb — go after with the intent to catch

verb — to lag or linger behind

drag

verb — move, proceed, or walk draggingly or slowly

shack

Antonyms

Idioms & Phrases

paper trail

A written record, history, or collection of evidence.

Keep a good paper trail in case anyone asks you why you arrived at that conclusion.

blaze a trail

To show the way or proceed rapidly.

throw off the trail

To misguide.

sawdust trail

The route followed by an itinerant Christian preacher in the United States.

The Rev. William A. (Billy) Sunday, one of the most noted evangelists of the old "sawdust trail," died suddenly tonight of a heart attack in the home of his brother-in-law, William

hot on the trail

Synonym of hot on someone's heels.

Example Bank

The hunters trailed their prey deep into the woods.

Wiktionary

You'll get your coat all muddy if you trail it around like that.

Wiktionary

Our little life is but a gust That bends the branches of thy tree, And trails its blossoms in the dust!

Wiktionary

trail of blood

Wiktionary

condensation trail

Wiktionary

data trail, paper trail

Wiktionary

Usage Notes

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