trailing
/ˈtreɪ.lɪŋ/ (bre, ipa) · [trˈelɪŋ] /ˈtreɪ.lɪŋ/ (ame, ipa) · [trˈelɪŋ] /ˈtrāl How to pronounce trail (audio)/ (ame, mw)
trailing — 形容詞
- trailingpositive
- more trailingcomparative
- most trailingsuperlative
1. describing a plant that spreads across a surface or hangs downward instead of ri
蔓生的
沿地面生長的（植物）
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.
Felix 沿著花園圍牆種了蔓生的長春藤，它很快就蔓延開了。
attributive use: trailing + plant noun
The window box was full of trailing flowers that hung down past the sill.
窗台上放滿了蔓生花卉，垂掛到窗臺下方。
describes growth habit of plants
Nala chose a trailing variety of rosemary for the hanging basket.
Nala 為吊籃選了一種蔓生的迷迭香。
A trailing plant covered most of the old stone wall behind the shed.
棚子後面那面老石牆上，爬滿了一種蔓生植物。
- 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 — 動詞
- 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
垂落
鬆散下垂並拖觸到表面
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.
Eleni 的長圍巾在她走過庭院時垂落在身後。
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.
一隻灰色小貓的尾巴在火爐邊打盹時從扶手椅邊垂落下來。
A long electrical cord trailed across the kitchen floor from the refrigerator.
一條長長的電線從冰箱垂落到廚房地板上。
Ivy trailed down the side of the brick wall from the flower box above.
長春藤從上方的花箱垂落到磚牆的側面。
- 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
拖曳
拖著某物使其觸及表面
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.
Quinn 把手伸進水裡，在船緩慢移動時拖曳而過。
trail + body part + through/in + liquid
The children trailed a broken branch behind them all the way home.
孩子們拖著一根斷掉的樹枝一路走回家。
Shanti trailed her backpack along the ground after the long school trip.
Shanti 在校外教學結束後拖著背包沿地面走。
Daichi trailed a garden hose across the lawn while watering the flowers.
Daichi 在澆花時拖著一條園藝水管穿過草地。
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
疲乏地走
因疲倦而緩慢沉重地行走
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.
在烈日下健行了一整天後，大家疲乏地走回營地。
trail + direction phrase — slow tired movement
Rin trailed home from the hospital, too exhausted to speak to anyone.
Rin 從醫院疲乏地走回家，累得不想跟任何人說話。
The defeated players trailed off the field with their heads down.
落敗的球員拖著沉重的腳步走出球場。
Lisa trailed slowly behind the tour group, stopping to catch her breath.
Lisa 疲乏地走在旅行團後面，時不時停下來喘口氣。
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
落後
在比賽或競爭中落後
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.
Mert 在期末考中落後他哥哥十分。
trail + [person/team] + by + [amount] — used in comparisons
The home team trailed two goals to nil at half-time in the match.
主隊在中場時以零比二落後。
trail + [score] + to + [score] — sports context
Our company is still trailing our main competitor in sales this year.
我們公司今年在銷售額上仍然落後主要競爭對手。
Lakan trailed behind the faster runners and finished the race last.
Lakan 落在跑得較快的選手後面，最後一名抵達終點。
- 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
緩流
液體或煙霧緩慢細流移動
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.
一縷細煙從即將熄滅的營火中緩緩升上空中。
trail + direction (upward/down/away) — describes slow movement of smoke
Water trailed down the windowpane after the heavy rain stopped.
大雨過後，水從窗玻璃上緩緩流下。
Elena watched the steam trail gently from her cup of hot tea.
Elena 看著蒸氣從她的熱茶杯中緩緩飄出。
Sand trailed through the small hole in the bottom of the bucket.
沙子從桶底的小洞中緩緩流出來。
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
散亂延伸
不整齊地散開延伸
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.
電線從壞掉的電視機散亂延伸在地板上。
trail across/along/over — uneven spread over a surface
The queue for the food truck trailed all the way around the corner.
排隊買餐車的人龍散亂延伸到轉角處。
Rose bushes trailed untidily over the fence into the neighbour's yard.
玫瑰叢散亂延伸到圍籬上，進到鄰居的院子裡。
Cables trailed from the computer desk and tangled around the chair legs.
電腦桌的線纜散亂延伸到各處，纏在椅腳上。
- 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
逐漸減弱
聲音或數量逐漸變小變少
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.
她看到眾人震驚的表情後，聲音逐漸減弱成耳語。
trail off/away — sound/voice becomes quieter
Interest in the project trailed away once the funding stopped.
資金一停，大家對這個計畫的興趣就逐漸減弱了。
The applause trailed off after the speaker left the stage.
演講者離開舞台後，掌聲逐漸減弱。
Lakan's enthusiasm for the course trailed away after the first difficult exam.
第一次困難的考試後，Lakan 對這門課的熱情逐漸減弱了。
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
追蹤
跟隨蹤跡或氣味尋找
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.
警方用警犬在樹林裡追蹤失蹤的小孩。
trail + [person/animal] — following by scent or signs
Quinn spent the afternoon trailing deer tracks in the snowy field.
Quinn 花了一個下午在雪地裡追蹤鹿的足跡。
The detective trailed the suspect for three days before making an arrest.
偵探追蹤嫌犯了三天後才逮捕他。
A photographer trailed the celebrity through the airport terminal.
一名攝影師在機場航廈裡追蹤那位名人。
The hunters trailed the bear by following its footprints in the mud.
獵人追蹤那頭熊，跟著牠留在泥地裡的腳印。
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 — 名詞
1. a rough path through the countryside, forest, or mountains that people walk alon
小徑
林間或山中的自然步道
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.
Felix 和 Nala 沿著一條狹窄的小徑穿過松樹林。
countable noun: a trail — a path in nature
The hiking trail goes up the mountain and ends at a small lake.
這條登山小徑直上山頂，終點是一個小湖。
There is a bicycle trail that runs along the river for ten miles.
有一條自行車小徑沿著河岸延伸十英里。
We got lost because the trail was covered with fallen leaves.
我們迷路了，因為小徑被落葉覆蓋了。
- 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
裙擺
禮服長裙拖地的後擺
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.
新娘的禮服裙擺很長，需要兩個人幫忙提著。
countable noun: a trail — back part of a formal gown
Elena chose a wedding gown with a short trail so she could dance easily.
Elena 選了一件短裙擺的婚紗，這樣她才能輕鬆跳舞。
Mira's prom dress had a long trail that her friends helped carry up the stairs.
Mira 的畢業舞會禮服裙擺很長，朋友們幫她提著上樓梯。
Adina carefully arranged the trail of her evening dress before the ceremony began.
Adina 在儀式開始前仔細整理了她晚禮服的裙擺。
- 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
一連串後果
事件引發的連鎖結果
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.
那樁醜聞留下一連串後果，包括毀掉的事業和名聲。
a trail of + negative results
The storm caused a trail of destruction across the coastal towns.
暴風雨在沿海城鎮造成了一連串後果與破壞。
The manager's careless comment left a trail of hurt feelings across the whole team.
主管一句不經心的話在團隊裡引發了一連串的不滿。
The company's poor choices left a trail of unpaid bills and unhappy customers.
公司錯誤的決策留下一連串後果，包括未付的帳單和不滿的顧客。
- 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
蔓生枝條
長莖或枝條
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.
Sivan 買了幾條長春藤的蔓生枝條來裝飾空書架。
countable: a trail — a single trailing stem or plant
The florist arranged a beautiful trail of white flowers down the side of the cake.
花藝師用一束美麗的白色蔓生枝條裝飾蛋糕的側邊。
Mert hung a basket of green trails from the ceiling of the sunroom.
Mert 在日光室的天花板上掛了一籃綠色蔓生枝條。
Lin hung trails of dried lavender along the beams of the wooden porch.
Lin 將乾燥薰衣草的蔓生枝條掛在木頭門廊的橫樑上。
用法筆記
Often used in the plural ('trails') to refer to hanging stems or arrangements of trailing plants.