Definitions for tail
tail
tail
Spelling: [teyl]
IPA: /teɪl/
Tail is a 4 letter English word.
It's valid Scrabble word worth 4 points.
It's valid Words with friends word worth 5 points.
You can make 40 anagrams from letters in tail (ailt).
Definitions for tail
noun
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the hindmost part of an animal, especially that forming a distinct, flexible appendage to the trunk.
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something resembling or suggesting this in shape or position:
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Astronomy. the luminous stream extending from the head of a comet.
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the reverse of a coin (opposed to head).
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Aeronautics. the after portion of an airplane or the like.
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tails.
tail coat.
the tapering skirts or ends at the back of a coat, especially a tail coat.
men's full-dress attire.
Distilling. alcohol obtained in the final distillation. Compare head (def 22).
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Slang. the buttocks or rump.
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Informal. a person who trails or keeps a close surveillance of another, as a detective or spy:
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Informal. the trail of a fleeing person or animal:
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Slang: Vulgar.
sexual intercourse.
Usually Disparaging and Offensive. a woman considered as a sex object.
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the hinder, bottom, or end part of anything; the rear.
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a final or concluding part of a sentence, conversation, social gathering, etc.; conclusion; end:
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the inferior or unwanted part of anything.
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a long braid or tress of hair.
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an arrangement of objects or persons extending as or as if a tail.
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a line of persons awaiting their turns at something; queue.
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a retinue; train.
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the lower part of a pool or stream.
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the exposed portion of a piece of roofing, as a slate.
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Printing, Bookbinding. the bottom of a page or book.
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Printing. the lower portion of a type, as of g, y, or Q.
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the limitation of an estate to a person and the person’s heirs or some particular class of such heirs.
Idioms
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turn tail,
to turn one's back on, as in aversion or fright.
to run away from difficulty, opposition, etc.; flee:
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with one's tail between one's legs, utterly humiliated; defeated; cowed:
adjective
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coming from behind:
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being in the back or rear:
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limited to a specified line of heirs; entailed.
verb (used with object)
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Informal. to follow in order to hinder escape of or to observe:
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to form or furnish with a tail.
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to form or constitute the tail or end of (a procession, retinue, etc.).
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to terminate; come after or behind; follow like a tail.
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to join or attach (one thing) at the tail or end of another.
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Building Trades. to fasten (a beam, stone, etc.) by one end (usually followed by in or into).
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to dock the tail of (a horse, dog, etc.).
verb (used without object)
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to follow close behind:
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to disappear gradually or merge into:
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to form, or move or pass in, a line or column suggestive of a tail:
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(of a boat) to have or take a position with the stern in a particular direction.
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Building Trades. (of a beam, stone, etc.) to be fastened by one end (usually followed by in or into).
Origin of tail
before 900; Middle English; Old English tægl; cognate with Old Norse tagl horse's tail, Gothic tagl hair, Middle High German zagel tail, Middle Low German tagel rope-end
Examples for tail
A bombing spate in Lebanon last year started to tail off in the winter.
The little squirrel had squeaked his gladness, and, tail erect, had darted into the grass.
Her tail bristled a little as it curled at the tip like a snake.
Like the wings, the tail surfaces—horizontal and vertical—easily break away from the fuselage and float.
The young man had the presence of mind to tail Gaylard Williams out of the park and jot down his license plate.
He carried his head loftily, and there was a lordly flaunt to his tail.
We thought that Sonny was inspiring us and he was out there and responding and sweating and playing his tail off.
He notes that “at least one paper” recognizes that the cause of the tail is “poorly understood.”
Out of the tail of his eye he could see that the rest of the Council were startled.
He sat still, just lifting the root of his tail as you stroked him.