trail off Definition

trail
verb trailed, trailing

tr & intr
1. To drag or be dragged loosely along the ground or other surface.
tr & intr
2. To walk or move along slowly and wearily.

Thesaurus: tarry, lag behind, fall back, loiter, linger, dawdle.
Form: trail along, behind (usually)
3. To drag (a limb, etc) especially slowly and wearily.
tr & intr
4. To fall or lag behind in eg a race or contest.

Example: trailed their opponents by 20 points
5. To follow the track or footsteps of someone or something.

Thesaurus: trace, track, pursue, hunt, follow.
tr & intr
6a. Said of a plant or plant part: to grow so long that it droops over or along a surface towards the ground;
tr & intr
6b. To encourage (a plant or plant part) to grow in this way.
7. To advertise (a forthcoming programme, film, etc) by showing chosen extracts, etc.

noun

1. A track, series of marks, footprints, etc left by a passing person, animal or thing, especially one followed in hunting.
2. A rough path or track through a wild or mountainous area.

Thesaurus: path, route, way, road, track, footpath.
3. Something that drags or is drawn behind.
4. The part of a gun carriage that rests on the ground when the limber² is detached.

Etymology: 14c, meaning ‘to drag behind'.

Phrasal Verb: trail away or off

Said especially of a voice or other sound: to become fainter.