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   Tail

   /tāl/

   

   noun

   • 1. the hindmost part of an animal, especially when prolonged beyond the rest of the body, such as the flexible extension of the backbone in a vertebrate, the feathers at the hind end of a bird, or a terminal appendage in an insect: "the dog's tail began to wag frantically" Similar hindmost partback endappendagebrushscutdocktailpiecetail feathershind parthindquarterstechnical:caudauropygiumOpposite fronthead
   • 2. a thing resembling an animal's tail in its shape or position, typically something extending downward or outward at the end of something: "the trailed tail of a capital "
   • ▪ the rear part of an airplane, with the horizontal stabilizer and rudder: "the fuselage tapers sharply toward the tail"
   • ▪ the lower or hanging part of a garment, especially the back of a shirt or coat: "he stormed off, the tails of his jacket flapping behind him"
   • ▪ a tailcoat; a man's formal evening suit with such a coat: informal "the men looked debonair in white tie and tails"
   • ▪ the luminous trail of particles following a comet.
   • ▪ the lower end of a pool or stream: "shallow riffles and the tails of pools are prime feeding areas"
   • ▪ the exposed end of a slate or tile in a roof: "the slates are dressed with the beveled tail and edge characteristic of thick, square stone roofing"
   • 3. the end of a long train or line of people or vehicles: "an armored truck at the tail of the convoy"
   • ▪ the final, more distant, or weaker part of something: "the forecast says we're in for the tail of a hurricane" Similar rearendbackextremityconclusionbottomlowest partinformal:fag endcloseendconclusionterminationtail endOpposite headfrontbeginningstart
   • 4. a person secretly following another to observe their movements: informal "I can't put a tail on him, I don't know where he's gone" Similar detectiveinvestigatorprivate investigatorshadowinformal:sleuthprivate eyetecgumshoebogeydickprivate dickshamus
   • 5. a person's buttocks: informal North American "fireworks followed when the coach kicked Ryan in his tail" Similar buttocksbacksidebehindbottomseatrumprearrear endcheekshindquartershaunchesderrièreSitzfleischtechnical:natesinformal:sit-uponsternBTMtochusrusty dustybumbottypratjacksiebahookiebuttfannytushtushieduffbunsbootycabooseheiniepatootiekeistertuchisbazoobippybattyrasshumorous:fundamentposteriorvulgar slang:arseclungeassarchaic:breech
   • ▪ a woman's genitals. vulgar slang
   • ▪ women collectively regarded as a means of sexual gratification: informal "I was getting worried that both of us would be chasing tail and getting into trouble for the rest of our lives"
   • 6. the reverse side of a coin (used when tossing a coin): "the chances of heads and tails in the long run are equal"

   verb

   • 1. follow and observe (someone) closely, especially in secret: "a flock of paparazzi had tailed them all over Paris"
   • ▪ follow: "they went to their favorite cafe—Bill and Sally tailed along"
   • 2. provide with a tail: "her calligraphy was topped by banners of black ink and tailed like the haunches of fabulous beasts"
   • 3. (of an object in flight) drift or curve in a particular direction: North American "the next pitch tailed in on me at the last second"
   • 4. join (one thing) to another: archaic "each new row of houses tailed on its drains to those of its neighbors"

   Word Origin Old Englishtæg(e)l, from a Germanic base meaning ‘hair, hairy tail’; related to Middle Low German tagel ‘twisted whip, rope's end’. The early sense of the verb (early 16th century) was ‘fasten to the back of something’.

   Derivatives

   • 1. tailless adjective
   • 2. taillessness noun

   Scrabble Points: 4

   • T

     1

   • A

     1

   • I

     1

   • L

     1

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2. People also ask

   What is tail noun?

   • Definition of tail noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary [countable] the part that sticks out at the back of the body of a bird, an animal or a fish, which the animal can move from side to side or up and down The dog ran up, wagging its tail. My dog loves to chase his tail. The male has beautiful tail feathers.

   tail noun - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes

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   What is a long tail?

   • The tail of an animal, bird, or fish is the part extending beyond the end of its body. ...a black dog with a long tail. You can use tail to refer to the end or back of something, especially something long and thin. ...the horizontal stabilizer bar on the plane's tail.

   TAIL definition in American English | Collins English Dictionary

   www.collinsdictionary.com/us/dictionary/english/tail

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   What is the purpose of a tail?

   • Tails serve various purposes in different animals. A fish's tail helps it move through the water, a cow's tail is a built-in fly swatter, and a scorpion uses its tail for self-defense. This noun also means simply "back end," like the tail of an airplane or the tail of a suit jacket. Colloquially, to tail someone means to follow them secretly.

   Tail - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com

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   What does it mean if a person has a tail?

   • [VERB noun] A tail is someone who is paid to watch and to follow another person. He checked behind. No tail. If you toss a coin and it comes down tails, you can see the side of it that does not have a picture of a head on it.

   TAIL definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

   www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/tail

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3. dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionaryTAIL | definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionary

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   Add to word list. a part of the body of an animal attached to the base of the back, or something similar in shape or position: The dog greeted us, wagging its tail. The comet’s tail glowed in the night sky.

4. www.dictionary.com › browse › tailTAIL Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

   www.dictionary.com › browse › tail

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   Tail definition: the hindmost part of an animal, especially that forming a distinct, flexible appendage to the back end of its body.. See examples of TAIL used in a sentence.

5. www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definitiontail noun - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage ...

   www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition

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   tail. [countable] the part that sticks out at the back of the body of a bird, an animal or a fish, which the animal can move from side to side or up and down. The dog ran up, wagging its tail. My dog loves to chase his tail. The male has beautiful tail feathers.

6. www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › tailTail - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com

   www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › tail

   noun. the posterior part of the body of a vertebrate especially when elongated and extending beyond the trunk or main part of the body. see more. noun. any projection that resembles the tail of an animal. synonyms: tail end. see more. noun. the fleshy part of the human body that you sit on.

7. www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › tail_1tail noun - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage ...

   www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › tail_1

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   Definition of tail noun in Oxford Advanced American Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

8. dictionary.cambridge.org › learner-english › tailTAIL | meaning - Cambridge Learner's Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › learner-english › tail

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   TAIL definition: 1. the long, narrow part that sticks out at the back of an animal's body: 2. the back part of…. Learn more.

9. www.collinsdictionary.com › us › dictionaryTAIL definition in American English | Collins English Dictionary

   www.collinsdictionary.com › us › dictionary

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   1 day ago · 1. countable noun. The tail of an animal, bird, or fish is the part extending beyond the end of its body. ...a black dog with a long tail. Synonyms: extremity, appendage, brush, rear end More Synonyms of tail. 2. countable noun. You can use tail to refer to the end or back of something, especially something long and thin.