trails
English meaning: Trails
Definition
The track or indication marking the route followed by something that has passed, such as the footprints of animal on land or the contrail of an airplane in the sky.
Example
“The national park has dozens of well-marked walking trails.”
Another example: “Investigators followed a trail of emails leading back to the suspect.”
Usage — When, Where & How
A plural noun for paths through countryside ('hiking trails', 'nature trails') and for marks or tracks left behind ('a trail of clues'). Common in outdoor recreation, navigation, and figurative use ('paper trail').
Etymology & Origin
English — Origin & History
From Old French 'trailler' (to tow, drag), ultimately from Latin 'tragula' (a dragnet); the noun sense dates to the 1400s.
Synonyms
- paths
- tracks
- routes
- pathways
Related Words
- snowshoeing
- biking
- hiking
- trailhead
- bikers
- trail
- horseback
- campground
- picnic
- interpretive
Common Collocations
- hiking trails
- nature trails
- mountain trails
- paper trail
- trail of clues
Word Forms
trail (sing.); trails (pl.); trail (v); trailed; trailing
Word Tools
Literary Heritage
“To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.”
/To thine own self be true/
“Be honest with yourself — and as naturally as night follows day, you will be unable to be false to others.”
“I'm nobody! Who are you? Are you nobody, too?”
/I'm nobody! Who are you?/
“I am nobody — and that quiet anonymity is more honest than the noise of public fame.”
Images
CC-licensed · free to useVideo
Language information
- Language
- English
- English
- Script
- Latin
- Family
- Indo-European
- Speakers
- 1.5B