trail

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a track or mark left by something that has passed

   there as a trail of blood

2. 2
   verb

   hang down so as to drag along the ground

   The bride's veiled trailed along the ground

3. 3
   verb

   move, proceed, or walk draggingly or slowly

   They trailed behind their class mates.

4. 4
   verb

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

   The hunters trailed their prey deep into the woods.

5. 5
   verb

   To drag (something) behind on the ground.

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

6. 6
   verb

   To leave (a trail of).

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

7. 7
   verb

   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.

8. 8
   verb

   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.

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”).