trail

to follow the track, trail, or scent of; track.

to follow along behind (another), as in a race.

to mark out, as a track.

to tread down or make a path through (grass or the like).

to draw out, as speech; protract.

Ceramics. to pour (slip) on a biscuit so as to produce a pattern.

to stream from or float after something moving, as dust, smoke, and sparks do.

to follow as if drawn along.

to fish by trailing a line from a moving boat; troll.

to go slowly, lazily, or wearily along.

to pass or extend in a straggling line.

to change gradually or wander from a course, so as to become weak, ineffectual, etc. (usually followed by off or away): Her voice trailed off into silence.

to arrive or be last: He finally trailed in at 10 o'clock.

to be losing in a contest: The home team was trailing 20 to 15.

to creep or crawl, as a serpent.

to follow a track or scent, as of game.

(of a plant) to extend itself in growth along the ground rather than taking root or clinging by tendrils, etc.

something that is trailed or that trails behind, as the train of a skirt or robe.

a stream of dust, smoke, light, people, vehicles, etc., behind something moving.

Artillery. the part of a gun carriage that rests on the ground when the piece is unlimbered.

Architecture. a running vine, leaf, or tendril ornament, as in a Gothic molding.

to chase, follow, or hunt (an animal or person) by following marks or tracks

(when intr, often foll by behind) to lag or linger behind (a person or thing)

(intr) (esp of plants) to extend or droop over or along a surface

(intr) to be falling behind in a race or competition: the favourite is trailing at the last fence

(tr) to tow (a boat, caravan, etc) behind a motor vehicle

(tr) to carry (a rifle) at the full length of the right arm in a horizontal position, with the muzzle to the fore

(intr) to move wearily or slowly: we trailed through the city

(tr) (on television or radio) to advertise (a future programme) with short extracts

trail one's coat to invite a quarrel by deliberately provocative behaviour

the scent left by a moving person or animal that is followed by a hunting animal

a path, track, or road, esp one roughly blazed

something that trails behind or trails in loops or strands

the part of a towed gun carriage and limber that connects the two when in movement and rests on the ground as a partial support when unlimbered

engineering the distance between the point of contact of a steerable wheel and a line drawn from the swivel pin axis to the ground

(on television or radio) an advertisement for a future programme