trail

/treil/

Friendly

Word: Trail

Part of Speech: Noun and Verb

Noun Meanings:

1. Path or Track:

   • A trail can refer to a path or track that is made through wild or hilly country. For example, when you hike in the mountains, you might follow a trail that leads you through the woods.
   • Example: "We walked along the trail in the forest, enjoying the fresh air."

2. Evidence or Mark:

   • A trail can also mean the marks or signs left by something that has passed through a place. For instance, if an animal walks through the snow, it leaves a trail of footprints.
   • Example: "The detective followed the trail of footprints in the snow to find the suspect."

3. Lead or Evidence in Investigations:

   • In police investigations, a trail refers to evidence that might lead to solving a case, such as clues or leads.
   • Example: "The trail of clues led the police straight to the perpetrator."

Verb Meanings:

1. To Drag Along:

   • As a verb, "trail" means to drag something along the ground or to allow it to sweep the ground.
   • Example: "The toddler was trailing his pants on the ground as he walked."

2. To Follow Slowly:

   • It can also mean to move slowly and behind someone or something.
   • Example: "John trailed behind his classmates during the field trip."

3. To Chase:

   • You can use "trail" to mean to go after someone with the intent to catch them.
   • Example: "The dog chased the rabbit but ended up trailing behind."

Advanced Usage:

• Figurative Use: The word "trail" can also be used metaphorically to describe situations where someone is behind in progress or development.
  • Example: "In technology, we are trailing behind other countries in innovation."

Word Variants:

• Trailing (adjective): Describes something that hangs down or drags along.

  • Example: "The bride's trailing veil was beautiful as she walked down the aisle."

• Trailblazer (noun): A person who is the first to do something, leading the way for others.

  • Example: "She is a trailblazer in the field of renewable energy."

Synonyms:

• Path
• Track
• Route
• Evidence
• Clue (when referring to the investigative context)

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• Trail off: This means to gradually become less or weaker, often referring to speech or sound.

  • Example: "Her voice trailed off as she lost her train of thought."

• Trail behind: To lag behind someone or something, not keeping up.

  • Example: "He always trails behind during the races."

Summary:

The word "trail" has multiple meanings and uses in English. As a noun, it can refer to a path or a mark left by something, and in a figurative sense, it can mean evidence in investigations. As a verb, it can mean to drag something or to follow slowly.

Academic

Noun

1. evidence pointing to a possible solution
   • the police are following a promising lead
   • the trail led straight to the perpetrator
2. a path or track roughly blazed through wild or hilly country
3. a track or mark left by something that has passed
   • there as a trail of blood
   • a tear left its trail on her cheek

Verb

1. drag loosely along a surface; allow to sweep the ground
   • The toddler was trailing his pants
   • She trained her long scarf behind her
2. hang down so as to drag along the ground
   • The bride's veiled trailed along the ground
3. move, proceed, or walk draggingly or slowly
   • John trailed behind his class mates
   • The Mercedes trailed behind the horse cart
4. go after with the intent to catch
   • The policeman chased the mugger down the alley
   • the dog chased the rabbit
5. to lag or linger behind
   • But in so many other areas we still are dragging

Synonyms

• lead
• track
• train
• shack
• chase
• chase after
• tail
• tag
• give chase
• dog
• go after
• drag
• get behind
• hang back
• drop behind
• drop back