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rail1 definition

rail (rāl)

noun

  1. a bar of wood, metal, etc. placed horizontally between upright posts to serve as a barrier or support
  2. a fence or railing; specif., the fence surrounding the infield of a racetrack
  3. any of a series of parallel metal bars laid upon crossties or in the ground to make a track for railroad cars, streetcars, etc.
  4. a railroad or railway as a means of transportation to travel by rail
  5. a horizontal piece of wood separating the panels in doors or wainscoting
  6. the rim of a billiard table
  7. Naut. a narrow, wooden or metal piece forming the top of a ship's bulwarks

Etymology: ME raile < OFr reille < L regula, rule

transitive verb

to supply with rails or a railing; fence

adjective

of or pertaining to a railway or railroad
rail Idioms

(go) off the rails

  1. (to go) off the proper course
  2. (to become) insane

ride on a rail

☆
to place on a rail and carry out of the community: extralegal punishment in which the victim was usually tarred and feathered beforehand
rail2 definition

rail (rāl)

intransitive verb

to speak bitterly or reproachfully; complain violently: with against, at, or about

Etymology: ME raylen < MFr < railler < Prov ralhar < VL *ragulare, to bray < LL ragere, to bellow

Related Forms:

rail3 definition

rail (rāl)

noun pl. rails or rail

any of a number of gruiform marsh birds (family Rallidae), characterized by short wings and tail, long toes, and a harsh cry

Etymology: ME rayle < MFr raale < raaler, to screech, rattle < VL *rasclare, to grate: orig. echoic

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

idioms rail idiom

rail Synonyms

rail

n.

  1. A polelike structure

    bar, post, railing, barrier, picket, rail fence, siding, balustrade, banister, paling, rest, handrail, guardrail, grab bar, brass rail; see also bar 1, fence 1.

  2. A track; often plural

    railway, monorail, railroad track; see railroad, track 1.

go off the rails*

go crazy, run amok, become insane; see rage 3.

ride on a rail

drive away, exile, run out of town; see banish 1.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

rail Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • hang: Inside each is a full height hanging rail at the top.

Adjective modifier

  • heated: Newly fitted large walk-in shower, heated towel rail, wash hand basin, WC.

Modifies a noun

  • freight: Rail freight has grown by more than 50 % .

Noun used with modifier

  • towel: Newly fitted large walk-in shower, heated towel rail, wash hand basin, WC.
rail usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

rail quotes

In myconscience I believethe baggage lovesme, for she never speaks well of me herself, nor suffers any body else to rail at me.

-Congreve,William

   It is better to fight for the good, than to rail at the ill; I have felt with my native land, I am one with my kind, I embrace the purpose of God, and the doom assigned.

-Tennyson

rail quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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MLA Style

"rail." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/rail>

APA Style

rail. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/rail

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