trail
/treɪl/ (bre, ipa) · /treɪl/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈtrāl/ (ame, mw)
trail — noun
- trailsingular
- trailsplural
1. a narrow unpaved way through a natural area such as a forest, mountain, or count
a narrow unpaved way through a natural area such as a forest, mountain, or countryside, created by repeated walking or made for outdoor activities like hiking, biking, or horse-riding
A steep dirt trail winds up the side of the mountain to a lookout point.
collocation: dirt trail / hiking trail
Rangers built a wooden walkway along the trail to protect the wetland plants.
trail + along: path alongside a natural feature
Eri follows the same forest trail every morning before breakfast.
Camila and her friends walked the coastal trail from the fishing village to the lighthouse.
The trail is clearly marked with painted arrows on the tree trunks.
文法句型
trail + through/across/along [area]
用法筆記
Countable noun. Often combined with the type of surface or purpose: dirt trail, gravel trail, bike trail, hiking trail, nature trail.
常見錯誤
2. physical marks or scents that a moving person, animal, or object deposits along
physical marks or scents that a moving person, animal, or object deposits along its route, allowing someone to follow and locate them
The tracker found a fresh trail of wolf prints in the soft mud.
trail of + [marks/prints] — describing what is left behind
Sade noticed a trail of breadcrumbs leading from the cupboard to the back door.
A trail of smoke rising from the chimney told Kofi that someone was home.
Takeshi followed a trail of wet footprints from the swimming pool to the locker room.
The dog picked up the rabbit's scent trail and dashed into the bushes.
文法句型
trail + of [marks/footprints/scent]
用法筆記
Often followed by 'of' + noun describing the physical or chemical trace: trail of blood, trail of footprints, trail of smoke, scent trail. Also common with verbs like 'pick up', 'lose', 'follow'.
常見錯誤
3. a connected series of facts, clues, or evidence that helps someone find a person
a connected series of facts, clues, or evidence that helps someone find a person or understand what has happened to them
The journalist followed a trail of leaked emails to uncover the corruption scandal.
trail of + [information/evidence] — abstract paper or digital trail
Rohan picked up the trail of his birth mother through online adoption records.
A trail of financial transactions led investigators to the hidden offshore accounts.
The accountant left a clear trail of fraudulent payments in the company ledgers.
Chidi picked up the trail of his missing uncle through social media posts.
- paper trail
specifically documents and written records left behind
- clues
individual pieces of evidence; less connected than a trail
- evidence
broader — any fact that supports a conclusion, not necessarily sequential
文法句型
trail of [information/evidence/clues]
用法筆記
This sense extends the physical trail metaphor to the world of information. Common in crime, journalism, and research contexts. Frequently used with 'follow', 'pick up', 'leave a ... trail'.
4. the process of trying to locate a person or thing by looking at evidence that re
the process of trying to locate a person or thing by looking at evidence that reveals their movements; used in the fixed phrase 'on the trail of' or 'on someone's trail'
The police are on the trail of a gang that stole over two million dollars.
fixed phrase: on the trail of [someone] — searching
Salma has been on the trail of a rare first-edition novel for almost a year.
The hackers covered their tracks well, so investigators are not yet on their trail.
Animal rights activists are on the trail of an illegal wildlife trader in Southeast Asia.
The detective felt she was finally on the right trail after months of dead ends.
- in pursuit of
more formal; often used in police or military contexts
- on the hunt for
more informal and active; suggests energetic searching
- searching for
simpler and more general; does not imply following a specific track
文法句型
on the trail of [someone/something]
on [someone's] trail
用法筆記
This sense only appears in the fixed expressions 'on the trail of' and 'on someone's trail'. It cannot be used alone as a standalone noun. The preposition 'on' is always required. After 'of', use a noun or noun phrase for the target being sought.
常見錯誤
trail — verb
- trailpresent simple I / you / we / they
- trails3rd person singular
- trailing-ing form
- trailedpast simple
1. to pull something behind yourself so it drags across a surface; or to dangle loo
to pull something behind yourself so it drags across a surface; or to dangle loosely and brush against a surface while attached to a moving person or thing
The little boy trailed a stick in the sand as he walked along the beach.
transitive: trail + object + in/through [surface]
Lauren's long scarf trailed behind her in the wind as she rode her bicycle downhill.
intransitive: scarf + trailed + behind — thing moves freely behind
A thin line of smoke trailed from the candle into the still air.
The bride's white dress trailed across the marble floor as she walked down the aisle.
A long rope trailed from the back of the truck, whipping in the wind.
文法句型
trail + object + behind/along
trail + adverb/preposition
trail from/in/through
用法筆記
Can be transitive (someone trails something) or intransitive (something trails behind). The intransitive use often describes hair, clothing, smoke, or ribbons that hang loosely and sweep the ground or flow through the air.
常見錯誤
2. to proceed at a slow, tired pace, typically because you are exhausted, reluctant
to proceed at a slow, tired pace, typically because you are exhausted, reluctant, or physically less able than your companions
After walking for eight hours, the children trailed behind their parents in silence.
trail behind [someone] — moving slower than others
The injured horse trailed slowly along the fence, favouring its front leg.
David trailed wearily up the stairs after a long day at the hospital.
The old dog trailed after its owner, stopping every few steps to rest.
Lucía always trails behind on long hikes because she stops to photograph wildflowers.
文法句型
trail + adverb/preposition
trail behind [someone]
用法筆記
Intransitive only — you cannot trail someone in this sense. The word describes your own movement, not that of another person. If you trail behind someone, you are moving more slowly than them, not pursuing them.
常見錯誤
3. to have a lower score, vote count, or position than an opponent in a race, elect
to have a lower score, vote count, or position than an opponent in a race, election, contest, or market competition
The home team trailed by fourteen points with only three minutes left.
trail by + [number/points/margin]
In the latest polls, the challenger is trailing the incumbent by eight percentage points.
Mayumi's company still trails its main competitor in the European smartphone market.
The company sales have been trailing the industry average for three quarters.
In the final lap, the runner trailed by less than a second.
- lag behind
more general; can be about progress or development, not just scores
- be down by
informal, especially in sports contexts
- fall behind
suggests losing a position you once held
- lead
to be ahead of others in a competition
- be ahead by
to have a higher score or position
文法句型
trail + by + [number]
trail + behind + [competitor]
用法筆記
Common in sports, politics, and business. 'Trail by (a margin)' states the gap; 'trail behind (someone)' states who is ahead. Can also be used transitively: 'Team A trails Team B by three goals.'
4. to follow the marks, smell, or other signs left by a person or animal in order t
to follow the marks, smell, or other signs left by a person or animal in order to catch them or find out where they have gone; or to follow behind someone without their knowledge
The search dog trailed the missing toddler through the forest for over three hours.
trail + [someone] + through [area] — tracking by scent
Lucía trailed the suspect from the train station to an apartment building across town.
A police helicopter trailed the stolen car along the highway until backup arrived.
The biologist trailed the rare snow leopard for weeks using camera traps.
Police trailed the suspect vehicle for several kilometres before making an arrest.
文法句型
trail + [someone/something]
trail + [someone] + through/across + [area]
用法筆記
Transitive only — you trail someone or something. This sense differs from sense 2 (move slowly) in that the focus is on the target being followed rather than the manner of moving. Frequently used in police, military, and wildlife contexts.