Trail | Mean of trail in English Dictionary

/ˈtreɪl/

• Verb
• to pull (something) behind you especially on the ground
1. The dog was trailing [=dragging] its leash.
2. The little girl went to her room, trailing her teddy bear behind her.
• to be pulled behind someone or something
1. The dog's leash was trailing along/on the ground.
2. The little girl's teddy bear trailed behind her.
• to walk or move slowly as you follow behind (someone or something)
1. He trailed us as we worked our way up the mountain.
2. She marched down the street with her children trailing (along) behind/after (her).
3. He trailed behind (us) as we worked our way up the mountain.

• to be behind in a race or competition
1. The President is trailing in the polls as the election approaches.
2. We were trailing by 3 runs at the end of the 6th inning.
3. Our team trailed their team at the end of the 6th inning.
• to follow and watch or try to catch (someone or something)
1. The dogs were trailing a fox.
2. Police trailed the suspect for six blocks.
• to move, flow, or extend slowly in a thin line
1. Smoke trailed (away) from the chimney.
2. A tear trailed down her cheek.
• to hang down to the ground
1. The curtains trailed onto the floor.
• Noun
• a path through a forest, field, etc.
1. Stay on the trail if we get separated.
2. a bike/ski trail
• the marks, signs, smells, etc., that are left behind by someone or something and that can often be followed
1. He left (behind) a trail of blood.
2. The car left a trail of smoke as it sped off.
3. The storm left a trail of destruction in its wake. [=the storm caused a lot of destruction as it moved across the land]
4. The dogs were following her trail. = The dogs were on her trail.
5. When we got to the river, the trail went cold. [=it could no longer be found or followed]
6. The police are hot on the trail of the escaped convicts. [=are chasing the escaped convicts and are close to catching them]
7. As he gained more political power, he left a trail of bitterness behind him. [=he treated people badly and made them feel bitter]
• a route that someone follows to go somewhere or achieve something
1. following the trail to success
2. The candidates talked about the people they met on the campaign trail. [=the people they met while going to different places during the campaign]
• to begin a journey
1. We should be ready to hit the trail by 8:00.
2. The candidates will soon be hitting the campaign trail.