tail
/ˈteɪ̯l/ verb C2- To hold by the end; said of a timber when it rests upon a wall or other support; with in or into
- To swing with the stern in a certain direction; said of a vessel at anchor. · This vessel tails downstream.
- To follow or hang to, like a tail; to be attached closely to, as that which can not be evaded.
- To follow and observe surreptitiously. · Tail that car!
- To pull or draw by the tail.
He/she/it tails · Past tailed · Past participle tailed · -ing form tailing
Verb forms
- Base form
- tail
- He/she/it
- tails
- Past
- tailed
- Past participle
- tailed
- -ing form
- tailing
Phrasal verbs and expressions
From the library
She ate a hearty breakfast, and watched a wee Munchkin baby, who played with Toto and pulled his tail and crowed and laughed in a way that greatly amused Dorothy.
“I know it,” returned the Lion, wiping a tear from his eye with the tip of his tail.
I think I can swim to the shore and pull the raft after me, if you will only hold fast to the tip of my tail.”
So he sprang into the water, and the Tin Woodman caught fast hold of his tail.
Other matches
- tail The caudal appendage of an animal that is attac... B2
- tail Limited C2
- tail Limitation of inheritance to certain heirs. C2
- tail away To gradually subside or diminish.
- tail down To stabilize a corbel by laying back bricks fir...
- tail in To fasten by one of the ends into a wall or som...
- tail off To gradually subside or diminish.
Learn tail in real texts
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