trail

name

1. A city in British Columbia, Canada.
2. A city in Polk County, Minnesota, United States.
3. A census-designated place in Jackson County, Oregon, United States.

noun

Etymology: From Middle English trailen, from Old French trailler (“to tow; pick up the scent of a quarry”), from Vulgar Latin *tragulāre (“to drag”), from Latin tragula (“dragnet, javelin thrown by a strap”), probably related to Latin trahere (“to pull, drag along”).

1. 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”

2. A route for travel over land, especially a narrow, unpaved pathway for use by hikers, horseback riders, etc.
3. A route or circuit generally.

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

4. A trailer broadcast on television for a forthcoming film or programme.
5. A walk in which all the edges are distinct.
6. The horizontal distance from where the wheel touches the ground to where the steering axis intersects the ground.

verb

Etymology: From Middle English trailen, from Old French trailler (“to tow; pick up the scent of a quarry”), from Vulgar Latin *tragulāre (“to drag”), from Latin tragula (“dragnet, javelin thrown by a strap”), probably related to Latin trahere (“to pull, drag along”).

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

   “The hunters trailed their prey deep into the woods.”

2. 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!”

3. To leave (a trail of).

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

4. 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.”

5. 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!”

6. To run or climb like certain plants.

   “The flowers glowed red and golden: snapdragons and sunflowers, and nasturtians trailing all over the turf walls and peeping in at the round windows.”

7. To drag oneself lazily or reluctantly along.

   “Our parents marched to church and we trailed behind.”

8. To be losing, to be behind in a competition.

   “Neil Lennon and his players have, in almost no time at all, roared back from trailing Rangers by 15 points in November to ending the year two points clear.”

9. To carry (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.
10. To create a trail in.

    “The sun shone on burnished bodies and arm-bands, and robes of beaver trailed the grass as majestic fellows trod back and forth in the passion of eloquence.”

    “[…] was no mean judge of racing and, having a suspicion of the possible result, she secreted a lemon in the commodious recesses of a dress which, while the height of fashion in those times, nevertheless trailed the grass.”

11. To travel by following or creating trails.

    “Trailed three miles down the North side and encamped early, making thirteen miles trailed to-day.”

    “In accordance with the treaty of 1842 they crossed the Missouri River to a reservation in Kansas. Poor crops, however, and a feverish climate made them unhappy in their new home: they trailed back to Iowa.”

12. To transport (livestock) by herding it along a trail.

    “One operator on the Boise Forest in Idaho reports that where he formerly marketed 80-pound lambs after trailing them 10 days from the allotment, his lambs now often tip the scales at 100 pounds or better, mainly because only one day is required to transport an entire shipment to the railroad through the use of truck pullmans.”

    “Genesis, the first book of the Holy Bible, relates the earliest known instance of cattle being trailed to better grass lands (unless Noah's trip with the ark is one).”

13. To take advantage of the ignorance of; to impose upon.

    “I presently perceived she was (what is vernacularly termed) trailing Mrs. Dent; that is, playing on her ignorance.”