adj · noun · verb · 5 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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/ˈtɹeɪ.lɪŋ/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -eɪlɪŋ
CMU ARPABET:T R EY1 L IH0 NG
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
That converge in the direction of travel.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: not-comparable
Topics: rail-transport, railways, transport
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
adj
Meaning 2
That follows behind; especially, that is attached and pulled behind.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: not-comparable
Examples
the trailing railcars
the trailing comments
no trailing whitespace characters
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
Fabric or other material that trails.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
verb
Meaning 4
present participle and gerund of trail
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: form-of, gerund, participle, present
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
noun
Meaning 5
the pursuit (of a person or animal) by following tracks or marks they left behind
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: tracking
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: pursuit, chase, pursual, following
History
Etymology
No etymology was provided for this word.
Across languages
Translations
3 source translations are retained for this English entry.
German:
anhängend
— rail transport: converging in the direction of travel
German:
nachziehend
— rail transport: converging in the direction of travel
German:
nachschleppend
— rail transport: converging in the direction of travel