tailthe prolongation of an animal?s rear end: The dog wagged his tail.; the rear part of an aircraft; the side of a coin that does not bear a head or date; someone employed to follow and report the movements of another: put a tail on the suspectNot to be confused with:tale ? story; an actual or fictitious narrative of an event: He told an exciting tale.Abused, Confused, & Misused Words by Mary Embree Copyright © 2007, 2013 by Mary Embreetail 1 (t?l)n.1. The posterior part of an animal, especially when elongated and extending beyond the trunk or main part of the body.2. The bottom, rear, or hindmost part, especially:a. The lowest part of a garment such as a shirt or coat.b. The rear end of an automobile or other vehicle.c. The rear portion of the fuselage of an aircraft or the assembly of stabilizing planes and control surfaces in this portion.d. The vaned rear portion of a bomb or missile.3. A long thin arrangement, part, or structure, often extending from a main structure:a. A long thin part on some kites that hangs down below the part that catches the wind to provide stability.b. The long stream of gas and dust that is illuminated and directed away from the head of a comet when it is close to the sun.c. A braid of hair; a pigtail.d. A train of followers; a retinue.4. Something that follows something else or takes the last place:a. The end of a line of persons or things.b. The short closing line of certain stanzas of verse.c. The refuse or dross remaining from processes such as distilling or milling.5. tailsa. A formal evening costume typically worn by men.b. A tailcoat.6. often tails(used with a sing. verb) The side of a coin not having the principal design.7. The trail of a person or animal in flight: The police were on the bank robber’s tail.8. A person assigned or employed to follow and report on someone else’s movements and actions: The police put a tail on the suspected drug dealer.9. a. Slang The buttocks.b. Vulgar Slang Sexual intercourse.c. Offensive Slang Women considered as sexual partners.adj.1. Of or relating to a tail or tails: tail feathers.2. Situated in the tail, as of an airplane: a tail gunner.v. tailed, tail·ing, tails v.tr.1. To provide with a tail: tail a kite.2. To deprive of a tail; dock.3. To serve as the tail or last part of: The Santa Claus float tailed the parade.4. To connect (often dissimilar or incongruous objects) by the tail or end: tail two ideas together.5. To set one end of (a beam, board, or brick) into a wall.6. Informal To follow and keep (a person) under surveillance.v.intr.1. To become lengthened or spaced when moving in a line: The patrol tailed out in pairs.2. To be inserted at one end into a wall, as a floor timber or beam.3. Informal To follow: tailed after the leader.4. Nautical a. To go aground with the stern foremost.b. To lie or swing with the stern in a named direction, as when riding at anchor or on a mooring.5. Sports To veer from a straight course in the direction of the dominant hand of the player propelling the ball: a pitch that tails away from the batter.Phrasal Verbs: tail down To ease a heavy load down a steep slope. tail off (or away) To diminish gradually; dwindle or subside: The fireworks tailed off into darkness.Idiom: with (one’s) tail between (one’s) legs In a state of humiliation or dejection.[Middle English, from Old English tægel.]tail?less adj.tail 2 (t?l) Law n. Limitation of the inheritance of an estate to a particular person and that person’s heirs.adj. Being in tail: a tail estate.[Middle English taille, from Old French, division, from taillier, to cut; see tailor.]American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.tail (te?l) n1. (Zoology) the region of the vertebrate body that is posterior to or above the anus and contains an elongation of the vertebral column, esp forming a flexible movable appendage. 2. anything resembling such an appendage in form or position; the bottom, lowest, or rear part: the tail of a shirt. 3. the last part or parts: the tail of the storm. 4. (Aeronautics) the rear part of an aircraft including the fin, tailplane, and control surfaces; empennage5. (Astronomy) astronomy the luminous stream of gas and dust particles, up to 200 million kilometres long, driven from the head of a comet, when close to the sun, under the effect of the solar wind and light pressure6. (Astronautics) the rear portion of a bomb, rocket, missile, etc, usually fitted with guiding or stabilizing vanes7. a line of people or things8. (Hairdressing & Grooming) a long braid or tress of hair: a ponytail; a pigtail. 9. (Angling) angling Also called: tailfly the lowest fly on a wet-fly cast10. (Poetry) a final short line in a stanza11. informal a person employed to follow and spy upon another or others12. (Anatomy) an informal word for buttocks. See buttock13. (Anatomy) taboo slang a. the female genitalsb. a woman considered sexually (esp in the phrases piece of tail, bit of tail)14. (Printing, Lithography & Bookbinding) printing a. the margin at the foot of a pageb. the bottom edge of a book15. (Angling) the lower end of a pool or part of a stream16. informal the course or track of a fleeing person or animal: the police are on my tail. 17. (modifier) coming from or situated in the rear: a tail wind. 18. turn tail to run away; escape19. with one’s tail between one’s legs in a state of utter defeat or confusionvb20. to form or cause to form the tail21. (Animals) to remove the tail of (an animal); dock22. (Cookery) (tr) to remove the stalk of: to top and tail the gooseberries. 23. (tr) to connect (objects, ideas, etc) together by or as if by the tail24. (tr) informal to follow stealthily25. (Agriculture) (tr) Austral to tend (cattle) on foot26. (Nautical Terms) (intr) (of a vessel) to assume a specified position, as when at a mooring27. (Building) to build the end of (a brick, joist, etc) into a wall or (of a brick, etc) to have one end built into a wall[Old English tægel; related to Old Norse tagl horse’s tail, Gothic tagl hair, Old High German zagal tail] ?tailless adj ?taillessly adv ?taillessness n ?tail-?like adjtail (te?l) property lawn (Law) the limitation of an estate or interest to a person and the heirs of his body. See also entailadj (Law) (immediately postpositive) (of an estate or interest) limited in this way[C15: from Old French taille a division; see tailor, tally] ?tailless adjCollins English Dictionary ? Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014tail1 (te?l) n. 1. the hindmost part of an animal, esp. that forming a distinct, flexible appendage to the trunk. 2. something resembling or suggesting this in shape or position: the tail of a kite. 3. the luminous stream extending from the head of a comet. 4. Also, tails. the reverse of a coin(opposed to head). 5. the rear portion of an airplane or the like. 6. tails, a. tail coat. b. the tapering skirts or ends at the back of a coat, esp. a tail coat. c. men’s full-dress attire. 7. Slang. the buttocks or rump. 8. a person who trails or keeps a close surveillance of another, as a detective or spy. 9. the trail of a fleeing person or animal. 10. Vulgar Slang. a. sexual intercourse. b. Usually Offensive. a person, esp. a woman, considered as a sexual object. 11. the hinder, bottom, or end part of something. 12. a final or concluding part; end. 13. the inferior or unwanted part of something. 14. a long braid or tress of hair. 15. a retinue; train. 16. the lower part of a pool or stream. 17. the exposed portion of a piece of roofing, as a slate. 18. the bottom part of a page or book. 19. the lower portion of a printer’s type, as of g, y, or Q. adj. 20. coming from behind: a tail breeze. 21. being in the back or rear: a tail gun on an aircraft. v.t. 22. to follow in order to hinder escape or to observe. 23. to form or furnish with a tail. 24. to form or constitute the tail or end of. 25. to join or attach (one thing) at the tail or end of another. 26. to fasten (a beam, stone, etc.) by one end (usu. fol. by in). 27. to dock the tail of (a horse, dog, etc.). v.i. 28. to follow close behind; tag. 29. to disappear gradually or merge into. 30. to form or move in a line suggestive of a tail. 31. (of a boat) to have or take a position with the stern in a particular direction. 32. (of a beam, stone, etc.) to be fastened by one end (usu. fol. by in). Idioms: 1. turn tail, to run away from difficulty, opposition, etc.; flee. 2. with one’s tail between one’s legs, utterly defeated or humiliated. [before 900; Old English tægl, c. Middle Low German tagel rope-end, Old High German zagel tail, Old Norse tagl horse’s tail, Gothic tagl hair] tail?less, adj. tail?less?ness, n. usage: Definitions 10a and 10b are vulgar slang. Definition 10b is usually perceived as insulting. tail2 (te?l) n. 1. limitation of the passage of an estate; entail. adj. 2. limited to a specified line of heirs; entailed. [1200?50; (n.) Middle English taille