Tail

/teɪl/

Definition & Meaning of "tail"

Tail

NOUN

the part of the body of an animal, a bird or a fish that sticks out at the back, which can move

Example

My cat has a long and bushy tail.

My friend 's lizard can detach its tail when threatened.

a person's rear

Dialect

American

arse

ass

backside

behind

bottom

Informal

Example

The coach gave him a playful tap on his tail to get him moving.

She slipped on the ice and landed on her tail with a yelp.

the time of the last part of something

any projection that resembles the tail of an animal

the rear part of a ship

The rear section of an aircraft, comprising the horizontal and vertical stabilizers, essential for maintaining stability and control in flight

Example

The mechanics checked the tail of the aircraft for any signs of wear and tear.

The tail of the plane played a crucial role in keeping it stable during turbulence.

the opposite side of a coin that typically displays a design or image

reverse

Example

He flipped the coin and called " heads, " but it landed on tail.

The tail of the coin featured a national emblem.

a spy employed to follow someone and report their movements

the bottom edge of the book's pages or the lower part of the book's spine

What is the "tail"?

The tail refers to the bottom edge of a book’s pages or the lower part of the book’s spine. It is the edge opposite the head, which is the top edge. and can be an important aspect of the book’s design and binding. In bookbinding, the tail is where the book’s spine and pages come together at the bottom, and it can affect how the book sits on a shelf and is handled.

to tail

VERB

to follow closely with the aim of catching or observing

Transitive: to tail sb/sth

Example

The detective decided to tail the suspect discreetly.

Paparazzi photographers often tail celebrities to capture exclusive photos of their daily lives.

to cut off the tail of an animal

Transitive: to tail an animal

Example

The veterinarian had to tail the injured dog after a serious accident to prevent infection.

Farmers often tail lambs shortly after birth as a standard practice in sheep husbandry.

to cut off the stalks or ends of fruits or vegetables as part of the preparation process

Transitive: to tail a fruit or vegetable

Example

Before making the salad, the chef needed to tail the strawberries by removing their stems.

The recipe instructed the cook to tail the green beans before blanching them for the stir-fry.

to drive closely behind another car, typically in a way that may be considered aggressive or dangerous

Disapproving

Informal

Example

He was tailing the car in front of him so closely that it made the driver nervous.

Stop tailing me, it ’s making me uncomfortable!

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Definition & Meaning of "tail"

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