trail
gb/tɹˈeɪl/ us/tɹˈeɪl/
A2
English
~ 3300
ösvény, turistaút, követ, húzódik, vonszolódik, kullog, nyom
NOUN
A2
1
Usage pattern:
walk/hike/ride along [a trail]
We followed a narrow trail up the hill.
Egy keskeny ösvényen mentünk fel a dombra.
The hiking trail leads to a beautiful waterfall.
A turistaút egy gyönyörű vízeséshez vezet.
A fresh trail through the grass showed where the deer had passed.
The park has several trails of varying difficulty.
Learner examples
We walked along the forest trail.
Az erdei ösvényen sétáltunk.
The trail goes to the lake.
Az ösvény a tóhoz vezet.
There is a small trail behind my house.
This trail is easy to follow.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'trail' with 'trial' due to similar spelling and pronunciation; 'trail' is a path, while 'trial' is a test or legal process.
Meaning
path made by people or animals
Collocations
hiking trail
|nature trail
|mountain trail
|forest trail
Synonyms
path (General term for a way or track for walking; not necessarily in nature.)
|
track (Often used for rough paths or those made by vehicles or animals.)
Antonyms
road (A prepared and often paved route for vehicles, not a narrow track.)
Themes
travel
|nature
|daily life
Definition
A narrow path made by people or animals walking over the same ground many times.
A beaten path or track, especially through a forest, countryside, or wilderness, formed by the passage of people or animals.
VERB
B1
2
követ
A2
Usage pattern:
trail [someone/something]
Detectives trailed the suspect for several hours.
A nyomozók több órán át követték a gyanúsítottat.
The paparazzi trailed the celebrity through the city.
A lesifotósok az egész városon át követték a hírességet.
She trailed behind the group, tired from the climb.
Learner examples
The police trailed the thief.
A rendőrök követték a tolvajt.
He trailed his friends on the way home.
Hazafelé követte a barátait.
I trailed my dog in the park.
Common mistake:
Some learners think 'trail' only means 'to walk on a path'; in this sense, it means 'to follow'.
Meaning
follow someone or something
Collocations
trail a suspect
|trail behind
|police trailing
Synonyms
follow (General term; does not imply secrecy or distance.)
|
pursue (More formal; often implies determination to catch.)
Antonyms
lead (To be in front and show the way instead of following.)
Themes
movement
|crime
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To go after someone or something, usually staying behind them.
To follow someone or something, often secretly or at a distance.
VERB
B1
3
húzódik
B1
vonszolódik
B2
Usage pattern:
trail [something] [behind]
Her scarf trailed behind her as she ran.
Futás közben a sálja mögötte lobogott.
The dog's leash trailed on the sidewalk.
A kutya póráza a járdán húzódott.
Vines trailed over the garden wall.
Learner examples
Her dress trailed on the floor.
A ruhája a földön húzódott.
The rope trailed in the water.
A kötél a vízben húzódott.
Leaves trailed from the tree.
Meaning
hang down behind
Collocations
dress trailing
|coat trailing on the ground
Synonyms
drag (Implies being pulled along with effort; less graceful than 'trail'.)
Antonyms
lift (To raise so that it does not touch the ground.)
Themes
movement
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To hang down and move along the ground or behind something.
To hang or drag loosely behind something as it moves.
VERB
A2
4
kullog
B2
Usage pattern:
trail [behind/after someone]
The children trailed behind their parents.
A gyerekek a szüleik mögött kullogtak.
She trailed after him, too exhausted to keep pace.
Kimerülten kullogott utána, túl fáradt volt ahhoz, hogy tartsa a tempót.
He trailed into the room long after everyone else had arrived.
Learner examples
I trailed behind my friends.
A barátaim mögött kullogtam.
She trailed after her mother in the store.
A boltban az anyja után kullogott.
They trailed into the classroom.
Meaning
move slowly behind others
Collocations
trailing behind
|trailing after
Synonyms
lag (Suggests falling behind due to slowness.)
Antonyms
keep up (To move at the same speed as others.)
Themes
movement
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To walk slowly and be behind other people because you are tired or bored.
To walk or move slowly and without energy, especially behind other people.
NOUN
B1
5
nyom
A2
The hikers left a trail of litter behind them.
A túrázók szemetet hagytak maguk után az útjuk mentén.
The dog picked up the fox's trail.
A kutya felvette a róka nyomát.
Police found a trail of blood leading away from the scene.
Learner examples
The dog found the rabbit's trail.
A kutya megtalálta a nyúl nyomát.
There was a trail of footprints in the snow.
Lábnyomok sora volt a hóban.
He left a trail of paper on the floor.
Meaning
signs left by passage of something
Collocations
leave a trail
|follow a trail
Synonyms
track (Often used for footprints or vehicle marks left on ground.)
|
trace (A small sign that something was present.)
Antonyms
cover up (To hide any evidence of passage.)
Themes
tracking
|nature
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Marks, smells, or other signs left when someone or something goes by.
A series of marks, smells, or other signs showing where someone or something has passed.
Grammar
Dictionary form
trail
IPA
GB/tɹˈeɪl/
US/tɹˈeɪl/
Syllables & stress
trail (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (trail)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: trail
- Plural: trails
Verb
- Base: trail
- 3rd Person Singular: trails
- Present Participle: trailing
- Past: trailed
Word family
Forms
trails
noun
trailing
verb
trailed
verb
Core family
trailer
noun A2
Related words
trailhead
noun
Advanced or less common
trailblazer
noun
Expressions
leave a trail of [something]
1/lˈiv ə tɹˈeɪl əv sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
leave signs along a path while moving forward
To cause things or marks to be left behind you as you move.
Examples
- The truck left a trail of dust down the road.
- She left a trail of perfume wherever she went.
on someone's trail
1/ˈɔn sˈʌmwˌʌnz tɹˈeɪl/
fixed phrase
actively following to catch someone/something
Trying to catch someone by following signs they leave behind.
Examples
- The detective was on the criminal's trail within hours of the robbery.
- Search dogs are on their trail.
trail off
1/tɹˈeɪl ˈɔf/
phrasal verb
gradually become quieter and stop speaking
To speak more quietly until you stop completely.
Examples
- Her voice trailed off as she realized no one was listening.
- He began to explain but then trailed off in embarrassment.