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rail
1[ reyl ]
noun
- a bar of wood or metal fixed horizontally for any of various purposes, as for a support, barrier, fence, or railing.
- a fence; railing.
- one of two fences marking the inside and outside boundaries of a racetrack.
- one of a pair of steel bars that provide the running surfaces for the wheels of locomotives and railroad cars.
- the railroad as a means of transportation:
to travel by rail.
- rails, stocks or bonds of railroad companies.
- Nautical. a horizontal member capping a bulwark.
- Carpentry, Furniture. any of various horizontal members framing panels or the like, as in a system of paneling, paneled door, window sash, or chest of drawers. Compare stile 2.
- Slang. a line of cocaine crystals or powder for inhaling through the nose.
verb (used with object)
- to furnish or enclose with a rail or rails.
rail
2[ reyl ]
verb (used without object)
- to utter bitter complaint or vehement denunciation (often followed by at or against ):
to rail at fate.
Synonyms: , , , ,
verb (used with object)
- to bring, force, etc., by railing.
rail
3[ reyl ]
noun
- any of numerous birds of the family Rallidae, that have short wings, a narrow body, long toes, and a harsh cry and inhabit grasslands, forests, and marshes in most parts of the world.
rail
1/ ɪ /
noun
- a horizontal bar of wood, metal, etc, supported by vertical posts, functioning as a fence, barrier, handrail, etc
- a horizontal bar fixed to a wall on which to hang things
a picture rail
- a horizontal framing member in a door or piece of panelling Compare stile 2
- short for railing
- one of a pair of parallel bars laid on a prepared track, roadway, etc, that serve as a guide and running surface for the wheels of a railway train, tramcar, etc
- short for railway
- ( as modifier )
rail transport
- nautical a trim for finishing the top of a bulwark
- off the rails
- into or in a state of dysfunction or disorder
- eccentric or mad
verb
- to provide with a rail or railings
- usually foll byin or off to fence (an area) with rails
rail
2/ ɪ /
verb
- intr; foll by at or against to complain bitterly or vehemently
to rail against fate
rail
3/ ɪ /
noun
- any of various small wading birds of the genus Rallus and related genera: family Rallidae , order Gruiformes (cranes, etc). They have short wings, long legs, and dark plumage
Derived Forms
- ˈ, adjective
- ˈ, noun
Other Word Forms
- l adjective
- l adjective
Word History and Origins
Origin of rail1
Origin of rail2
Origin of rail3
Word History and Origins
Origin of rail1
Origin of rail2
Origin of rail3
Idioms and Phrases
see off the rails ; thin as a rail ; third rail .Example Sentences
The inauguration of the world's highest single-arch rail bridge, set to connect the Kashmir valley with the rest of India was slated to happen this month after several delays.
Amtrak’s rail service through San Diego County is also experiencing frequent schedule changes due to a similar construction project aimed at stabilizing the bluffs in Del Mar.
A major power cut across large parts of Spain and Portugal has resulted in dozens of flights being cancelled as well as disruption to rail and road networks.
The one is not as horrible a post as it used to be since Churchill Downs built a 20-horse gate, meaning the one horse isn’t right against the rail.
Black-and-white photographs and films showed miners in hard hats and soiled uniforms as they stood smoking cigarettes, climbing into open rail cars and running machinery that scooped and loaded piles of rocks.
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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