Definition of tail - Reverso English Dictionary
Noun
1.
medicalthe rear appendage of an animal
- The dog wagged its tail happily.
2.
objectsthe end part of an object
- The kite's tail fluttered in the wind.
3.
currencythe reverse side of a coin
- He flipped the coin and it landed on tails.
4.
timethe last part of a time period
- We met at the tail of the year.
5.
followerperson who follows someone secretly
- The detective put a tail on the suspect.
6.
astronomythe luminous trail of a comet
- The comet's tail was visible in the night sky.
7.
aviationTECH. the back part of an aircraftTECH.
- The plane's tail was damaged during landing.
Verb
1.
surveillancetr. follow someone secretly to observe themtr.
- The detective decided to tail the suspect.
2.
cookingtr. UK remove the stalk from fruits or berriestr. UK
- She carefully tailed the strawberries before serving.
3.
maritimeintr. TECH. swing with the stern in a directionintr. TECH.
- The ship tailed to the east at anchor.
Adjective
1.
positionlocated at the rear end of something
- The tail lights of the car were bright in the fog.
2.
legalRare limited or reduced in scope or extentRare
- The estate was held in tail.
Images of tail
the end part of an object 
the reverse side of a coin 
the back part of an aircraft
Expressions with tail
💡 Discover popular phrases, idioms, collocations, or phrasal verbs. Click any expression to learn more, listen to its pronunciation, or save it to your favorites.
the tail of a whale
The whale's tail splashed water everywhere.
decrease gradually in intensity or amount
The music started to tail off as the night drew to a close..
engage in futile or repetitive activity
I feel like I'm just chasing tail with this project.
slowly become less visible or noticeable
The sound of the train tailed out as it moved away.
tail positioned between the legs of an animal
The dog walked away with its tail between its legs.
the rear part of something
The tail end of the plane was damaged.
fail to understand or make sense of something at all
I can't make head nor tail of this confusing report!
engage in futile activities
Stop tweaking fonts; you're just chasing your tail and missing the deadline.
assign someone to secretly follow another person
The detective decided to put a tail on the suspect.
minor part controlling the main part
The committee's decision was a case of the tail wagging the dog.
unexpected ending that surprises people
The movie had a twist in the tail that shocked everyone.
waste time doing things that achieve nothing
He spent all day chasing his own tail at work.
do a lot but achieve nothing useful
He keeps chasing his tail at work.
stop pressuring someone
She asked her boss to get off her tail about the project.
feel confident and spirited about something
After the promotion, she really had her tail up.
completely from beginning to end
The project was reviewed nose to tail for errors.
persistently pursuing or chasing someone
The reporter was on the celebrity's tail all day.
closely following or pursuing someone
The detective was on the suspect's tail all night.
hidden drawback or difficulty
The offer seemed great, but there was a sting in the tail.
remove the top and bottom parts
He topped and tailed the carrots for the stew.
from the top to the bottom
The room was cleaned top to tail.
to show fear or submission
The dog would tuck tail whenever it heard thunder.
retreat hastily to avoid confrontation
The soldiers turned tail when they saw the enemy advancing.
work very hard with great effort
She worked her tail off to finish the project.
Origin of tail
Old English, tægel (tail)
Terms with tail included in their meaning
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animal
small to medium-sized primate with a tail
animal
small rodent with a long tail
animal
small mammal with long ears and fluffy tail
animal
small rodent known for its long tail and sharp teeth
bird
large bird with fan-shaped tail
animal
wild animal with reddish-brown fur and bushy tail
bird
small bird with pointed wings and a forked tail
animal
large rodent with a flat tail and webbed feet
winter hat
snug woolen hat for cold weather, sometimes with a tail or tassel
marine
large flat fish with a venomous tail
archery
projectile with a shaft, point, and tail shot from a bow
wildlife
North American mammal with black face markings, striped tail, noted for adaptability
animal
small North American mammal with gray fur and bushy tail
pet
small rodent with cheek pouches and short tail
animal
bird of prey with long wings and tail
animal
reptile with a long body, tail, movable eyelids, and four legs
sea lore
mythical creature with woman's body and fish tail
bird
male peafowl with a colorful tail
biology
arachnid with pincers and venomous tail
animal
small rodent with a bushy tail
tail movement
move rapidly from side to side
bird
large black and white bird with a long tail
marine
small fish with horse-like head and curled tail
cutting hair
cut hair or an animal's tail or ears short
Examples of tail in a sentence
A peacock's tail is quite colorful. The comet's tail stretched across the sky. The dog wagged its tail happily. The coin showed tails after the toss. He called heads, but it was tails. The tail of the semester was stressful for students.
We planned our trip for the tail of summer. The journalist noticed a tail outside her apartment. He lost the tail by taking three unexpected turns. Astronomers studied the tail of the passing comet. The tail of the comet stretched across the sky. The tail of the jet houses important equipment. Engineers inspected the tail for structural integrity. Agents were assigned to tail the diplomat during his visit. He didn't realize someone was paid to tail him. He had to tail the cherries for the pie. The chef instructed to tail the gooseberries. The vessel tailed sharply in the strong current. As the storm hit, the boat tailed unexpectedly. The tail section of the plane was damaged. The tail end of the parade was the most colorful. The property was transferred in tail. The rights were granted in tail.
View all translations of tail
Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.
- French:appendice caudal, pister, ...
- German:Schwanz, beschatten, ...
- Italian:coda, pedinare, ...
- Spanish:cola, seguir, ...
- Portuguese:cauda, seguir, ...
- Chinese:尾巴, 跟踪, ...
- Japanese:しっぽ, 尾行する, ...
- Arabic:ذَيْل, تَعَقَّبَ, ...
- Hebrew:זָנָב, לַעֲקוֹב, ...
- Russian:хвост, следить, ...
- Ukrainian:хвіст, стежити, ...
- Hindi:पूँछ, पीछा करना, ...
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