trailing
trailing — adjective
- trailingpositive
- more trailingcomparative
- most trailingsuperlative
1. describing a plant that spreads across a surface or hangs downward instead of ri
describing a plant that spreads across a surface or hangs downward instead of rising upward
Felix planted trailing ivy along the garden wall, and it spread quickly.
attributive use: trailing + plant noun
The window box was full of trailing flowers that hung down past the sill.
describes growth habit of plants
Nala chose a trailing variety of rosemary for the hanging basket.
A trailing plant covered most of the old stone wall behind the shed.
- creeping
used for plants that spread close to the ground, often rooting as they go
用法筆記
Only used before a noun (attributive position) to describe the growth habit of a plant.
trailing — verb
- trailingpresent simple I / you / we / they
- trailings3rd person singular
- trailinging-ing form
- trailingedpast simple
1. to hang down loosely so that the end of something touches or drags along a surfa
to hang down loosely so that the end of something touches or drags along a surface
Eleni's long scarf trailed behind her as she walked across the courtyard.
trail behind [sb/sth] — loose object dragged along
A grey kitten's tail trailed off the edge of the armchair while it napped by the fire.
A long electrical cord trailed across the kitchen floor from the refrigerator.
Ivy trailed down the side of the brick wall from the flower box above.
- rise
to go upward
文法句型
trail + adverb/preposition
用法筆記
Often followed by a prepositional phrase indicating the surface or direction. Frequently used for clothing, hair, or plant growth.
常見錯誤
2. to pull something behind you so that it touches or drags along a surface
to pull something behind you so that it touches or drags along a surface
Quinn trailed his hand through the water as the boat moved slowly.
trail + body part + through/in + liquid
The children trailed a broken branch behind them all the way home.
Shanti trailed her backpack along the ground after the long school trip.
Daichi trailed a garden hose across the lawn while watering the flowers.
文法句型
trail + noun + prepositional phrase
用法筆記
The object is often a body part or an object that is too large or heavy to carry easily. The prepositional phrase describes the surface or path.
常見錯誤
3. to move with slow, heavy steps because you are tired, ill, or sad
to move with slow, heavy steps because you are tired, ill, or sad
After hiking all day in the hot sun, the group trailed back to camp.
trail + direction phrase — slow tired movement
Rin trailed home from the hospital, too exhausted to speak to anyone.
The defeated players trailed off the field with their heads down.
Lisa trailed slowly behind the tour group, stopping to catch her breath.
文法句型
trail + adverb of manner/prepositional phrase
用法筆記
Typically followed by a direction or location phrase. The emphasis is on the effort or lack of energy in the movement.
4. to be behind other people or groups in a race, competition, or progress, especia
to be behind other people or groups in a race, competition, or progress, especially by a noticeable amount
Mert trailed his older brother by ten points in the final exam.
trail + [person/team] + by + [amount] — used in comparisons
The home team trailed two goals to nil at half-time in the match.
trail + [score] + to + [score] — sports context
Our company is still trailing our main competitor in sales this year.
Lakan trailed behind the faster runners and finished the race last.
- lag
suggests falling behind in speed or progress
- fall behind
more informal and phrasal
文法句型
trail + noun phrase (someone)
用法筆記
Common in sports, business, and academic contexts. The amount or margin of being behind is often specified with 'by'.
常見錯誤
5. to move slowly and gently in a thin, continuous stream of liquid or smoke
to move slowly and gently in a thin, continuous stream of liquid or smoke
A thin line of smoke trailed upward from the dying campfire.
trail + direction (upward/down/away) — describes slow movement of smoke
Water trailed down the windowpane after the heavy rain stopped.
Elena watched the steam trail gently from her cup of hot tea.
Sand trailed through the small hole in the bottom of the bucket.
文法句型
trail + adverb of direction/preposition
用法筆記
Used for liquids, smoke, steam, or loose particles like sand or dust. The movement is thin, gentle, and continuous.
6. to spread or extend in an uneven, untidy line rather than in a neat or straight
to spread or extend in an uneven, untidy line rather than in a neat or straight order
Wires trailed across the floor from the broken television set.
trail across/along/over — uneven spread over a surface
The queue for the food truck trailed all the way around the corner.
Rose bushes trailed untidily over the fence into the neighbour's yard.
Cables trailed from the computer desk and tangled around the chair legs.
- align
to arrange in a straight line
文法句型
trail + adverb/preposition
用法筆記
Often has a negative connotation of disorder or messiness. The subject is usually something long and flexible (wires, plants, queues).
7. to become gradually weaker, smaller, or less in amount until almost nothing rema
to become gradually weaker, smaller, or less in amount until almost nothing remains
Her voice trailed off to a whisper when she saw the shocked faces.
trail off/away — sound/voice becomes quieter
Interest in the project trailed away once the funding stopped.
The applause trailed off after the speaker left the stage.
Lakan's enthusiasm for the course trailed away after the first difficult exam.
文法句型
trail + off/away
用法筆記
Almost always used with 'off' or 'away'. Common with sounds (voice, applause), feelings (interest, enthusiasm), and physical quantities.
常見錯誤
8. to follow someone or something by looking for signs, marks, or a scent that they
to follow someone or something by looking for signs, marks, or a scent that they have left behind
The police used a dog to trail the missing child through the woods.
trail + [person/animal] — following by scent or signs
Quinn spent the afternoon trailing deer tracks in the snowy field.
The detective trailed the suspect for three days before making an arrest.
A photographer trailed the celebrity through the airport terminal.
The hunters trailed the bear by following its footprints in the mud.
文法句型
trail + noun (target being followed)
用法筆記
Can be transitive (trail someone) or intransitive ('The dogs were trailing'). The method of following is often specified with 'by'.
常見錯誤
trailing — noun
1. a rough path through the countryside, forest, or mountains that people walk alon
a rough path through the countryside, forest, or mountains that people walk along for enjoyment
Felix and Nala followed a narrow trail through the pine forest.
countable noun: a trail — a path in nature
The hiking trail goes up the mountain and ends at a small lake.
There is a bicycle trail that runs along the river for ten miles.
We got lost because the trail was covered with fallen leaves.
- road
a wide, paved way for vehicles
文法句型
a/the trail + of + noun
on a/the trail
用法筆記
Distinguish from 'path' — 'trail' usually suggests a rougher, more natural route, especially in a rural or wilderness setting.
2. the long part at the back of a formal dress or wedding gown that spreads out on
the long part at the back of a formal dress or wedding gown that spreads out on the floor behind the wearer
The bride's dress had a long trail that required two helpers to carry.
countable noun: a trail — back part of a formal gown
Elena chose a wedding gown with a short trail so she could dance easily.
Mira's prom dress had a long trail that her friends helped carry up the stairs.
Adina carefully arranged the trail of her evening dress before the ceremony began.
- train
the more common word for the back extension of a formal gown
用法筆記
Also called a 'train'. Common in wedding and formal fashion contexts.
3. a series of connected events, effects, or results that follow something and cont
a series of connected events, effects, or results that follow something and continue for some time
The scandal left a trail of broken careers and ruined reputations.
a trail of + negative results
The storm caused a trail of destruction across the coastal towns.
The manager's careless comment left a trail of hurt feelings across the whole team.
The company's poor choices left a trail of unpaid bills and unhappy customers.
- aftermath
focuses on the period following a destructive event
- chain reaction
emphasises one event causing the next in sequence
文法句型
a trail of + noun
用法筆記
Almost always used in the phrase 'a trail of' followed by negative nouns like destruction, chaos, broken things, or debts.
4. a long thin stem or strand of a trailing plant, used especially in decoration or
a long thin stem or strand of a trailing plant, used especially in decoration or arrangements
Sivan bought several trails of ivy to decorate the empty bookshelf.
countable: a trail — a single trailing stem or plant
The florist arranged a beautiful trail of white flowers down the side of the cake.
Mert hung a basket of green trails from the ceiling of the sunroom.
Lin hung trails of dried lavender along the beams of the wooden porch.
用法筆記
Often used in the plural ('trails') to refer to hanging stems or arrangements of trailing plants.