tailless

Variant of tail

noun

    1. the rear end of an animal's body, esp. when forming a distinct, flexible appendage to the trunk
    2. such an appendage
  1. anything like an animal's tail in form or position: the tail of a shirt
  2. a luminous train behind a comet or meteor
  3. the hind, bottom, last, or inferior part of anything
  4. the reverse side of a coin
  5. a long braid or tress of hair
  6. a train of followers or attendants; retinue
  7. the lower end of a pool or stream
    1. the rear or back section of an aircraft
    2. a set of stabilizing planes at the rear of an airplane
    3. the rear part of a rocket or missile
    1. tailcoat
    2. full-dress attire for men
  8. Informal a person or vehicle that follows another, esp. in surveillance
  9. Slang the buttocks
  10. Slang, Vulgar
    1. sexual intercourse with a woman
    2. a woman regarded as a sexual partner
  11. Printing the bottom of a page
  12. Prosody the short line or lines ending certain stanzas or verse forms

Origin: ME < OE tægel, akin to OHG zagel < IE base *de-, to tear, tear off > Sans saśā, fringe

adjective

  1. at the rear or rear end
  2. from the rear: a tail wind

transitive verb

  1. to provide with a tail
  2. to cut or detach the tail or taillike part from
  3. to form the tail or end of, as of a group or procession; be at the rear or end of
  4. to fasten or connect at or by the tail
  5. to fasten one end of (a brick, board, etc.) into a wall, etc.: with in or on
  6. Slang to follow stealthily; shadow

intransitive verb

  1. to straggle
  2. to become gradually smaller or fainter: with off or away
  3. to be fastened into a wall, etc. by one end: said of a brick or board
  4. Informal to follow close behind
  5. Naut. to go aground or be anchored stern foremost

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2010 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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