Tail Definition

tāl
tailed, tailing, tails
noun
tails
The rear end of an animal's body, esp. when forming a distinct, flexible appendage to the trunk.
Webster's New World
A long thin arrangement, part, or structure, often extending from a main structure:
American Heritage
Anything like an animal's tail in form or position.
The tail of a shirt.
Webster's New World
Something that follows something else or takes the last place:
American Heritage
A luminous train behind a comet or meteor.
Webster's New World
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
adjective
Of or relating to a tail or tails.
Tail feathers.
American Heritage
At the rear or rear end.
Webster's New World
Situated in the tail, as of an airplane.
A tail gunner.
American Heritage
From the rear.
A tail wind.
Webster's New World
Of or relating to a tail or tails.
Tail feathers.
American Heritage
verb
tailed, tailing, tails
To provide with a tail.
Webster's New World
To straggle.
Webster's New World
To deprive of a tail; dock.
American Heritage Medicine
To cut or detach the tail or taillike part from.
Webster's New World
To form the tail or end of, as of a group or procession; be at the rear or end of.
Webster's New World
Antonyms:
idiom
with (one's) tail between (one's) legs
  • In a state of humiliation or dejection.
American Heritage
with (one's) tail between (one's) legs
  • In a state of humiliation or dejection.
American Heritage
on someone's tail
  • following or shadowing someone closely
Webster's New World
turn tail
  • to run from danger, difficulty, hardship, etc.
Webster's New World
with one's tail between one's legs
  • in defeat or in escape from expected defeat, esp. with fear or dejection
Webster's New World

Other Word Forms of Tail

Noun

Singular:
tail
Plural:
tails

Idioms, Phrasal Verbs Related to Tail

  • with (one's) tail between (one's) legs
  • with (one's) tail between (one's) legs
  • on someone's tail
  • turn tail
  • with one's tail between one's legs

Origin of Tail

  • Middle English taille from Old French division from taillier to cut tailor

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • Middle English from Old English tægel

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • Middle English from Old English tægel

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

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