rail

rail¹

R0023400 (rāl)n.1. a. A bar extending horizontally between supports, as in a fence.b. A structure made of such bars and supports and forming a barrier or guard; a railing.2. A steel bar used, usually in pairs, as a track for railroad cars or other wheeled vehicles.3. Sports A grind rail.4. The railroad as a means of transportation: goods transported by rail.5. A horizontal framing member in a door or in paneling.tr.v. railed, rail·ing, rails To supply or enclose with rails or a rail.

[Middle English raile, from Old French reille, from Latin rēgula, straight piece of wood, ruler; see reg- in Indo-European roots.]

rail²

R0023400 (rāl)n. Any of various marsh birds of the family Rallidae, found worldwide and characteristically having brownish plumage and short wings.

[Middle English rale, from Old French rasle, probably named for their harsh cries and from Old French *rasler, to make a harsh noise (attested in Middle French rasler, to haggle, bellow like a stag), akin to Old French rasclar, to harrow, rake, from Old Provençal rasclar; see raclette.]

rail³

R0023400 (rāl)intr.v. railed, rail·ing, rails To express objections or criticisms in bitter, harsh, or abusive language. See Synonyms at scold.

[Middle English railen, from Old French railler, to tease, joke, from Old Provençal ralhar, to chat, joke, from Vulgar Latin *ragulāre, to bray, from Late Latin ragere.]

rail′er n.

rail

(reɪl) n1. (Building) a horizontal bar of wood, metal, etc, supported by vertical posts, functioning as a fence, barrier, handrail, etc2. (Building) a horizontal bar fixed to a wall on which to hang things: a picture rail. 3. (Building) a horizontal framing member in a door or piece of panelling. Compare stile²4. (Building) short for railing5. (Mechanical Engineering) one of a pair of parallel bars laid on a prepared track, roadway, etc, that serve as a guide and running surface for the wheels of a railway train, tramcar, etc6. (Railways) a. short for railwayb. (as modifier): rail transport. 7. (Nautical Terms) nautical a trim for finishing the top of a bulwark8. off the rails a. into or in a state of dysfunction or disorderb. eccentric or madvb (tr) 9. to provide with a rail or railings10. (usually foll by: in or off) to fence (an area) with rails[C13: from Old French raille rod, from Latin rēgula ruler, straight piece of wood] ˈrailless adj

rail

(reɪl) vb (intr; foll by at or against) to complain bitterly or vehemently: to rail against fate. [C15: from Old French railler to mock, from Old Provençal ralhar to chatter, joke, from Late Latin ragere to yell, neigh] ˈrailer n

rail

(reɪl) n (Animals) any of various small wading birds of the genus Rallus and related genera: family Rallidae, order Gruiformes (cranes, etc). They have short wings, long legs, and dark plumage[C15: from Old French raale, perhaps from Latin rādere to scrape]

rail¹

(reɪl)

n. 1. a bar of wood, metal, etc., fixed horizontally, as for a support, barrier, or fence. 2. a fence; railing. 3. one of a pair of steel bars that provide the running surfaces for the wheels of locomotives and railroad cars.. 4. the railroad as a means of transportation: to travel by rail. 5. rails, stocks or bonds of railroad companies. 6. one of two fences marking the inside and outside boundaries of a racetrack. 7. a horizontal member capping a ship's bulwark. 8. any of various horizontal members framing paneling or the like, as in a paneled door or a window sash. Compare stile ². v.t. 9. to furnish or enclose with a rail or railing. [1250–1300; Middle English raile < Old French raille bar, beam]

rail²

(reɪl)

v.i. to utter bitter complaints or vehement denunciation (often fol. by at or against): to rail at fate. [1425–75; late Middle English < Middle French railler to deride < Occitan ralhar to chatter < Vulgar Latin *ragulāre]

rail³

(reɪl)

n. any of numerous usu. secretive birds of the family Rallidae, having short wings, a narrow body, and long toes, and inhabiting forests, grasslands, and esp. marshes in most parts of the world. [1400–50; late Middle English rale < Old French raale (c. Occitan rascla), n. derivative of raler < Vulgar Latin *rāsiculāre, frequentative of Latin rādere (past participle rāsus) to scratch]

rail

Past participle: railed
Gerund: railing

Imperative
rail
rail

Present
I rail
you rail
he/she/it rails
we rail
you rail
they rail

Preterite
I railed
you railed
he/she/it railed
we railed
you railed
they railed

Present Continuous
I am railing
you are railing
he/she/it is railing
we are railing
you are railing
they are railing

Present Perfect
I have railed
you have railed
he/she/it has railed
we have railed
you have railed
they have railed

Past Continuous
I was railing
you were railing
he/she/it was railing
we were railing
you were railing
they were railing

Past Perfect
I had railed
you had railed
he/she/it had railed
we had railed
you had railed
they had railed

Future
I will rail
you will rail
he/she/it will rail
we will rail
you will rail
they will rail

Future Perfect
I will have railed
you will have railed
he/she/it will have railed
we will have railed
you will have railed
they will have railed

Future Continuous
I will be railing
you will be railing
he/she/it will be railing
we will be railing
you will be railing
they will be railing

Present Perfect Continuous
I have been railing
you have been railing
he/she/it has been railing
we have been railing
you have been railing
they have been railing

Future Perfect Continuous
I will have been railing
you will have been railing
he/she/it will have been railing
we will have been railing
you will have been railing
they will have been railing

Past Perfect Continuous
I had been railing
you had been railing
he/she/it had been railing
we had been railing
you had been railing
they had been railing

Conditional
I would rail
you would rail
he/she/it would rail
we would rail
you would rail
they would rail

Past Conditional
I would have railed
you would have railed
he/she/it would have railed
we would have railed
you would have railed
they would have railed

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	rail - a barrier consisting of a horizontal bar and supportsrailingbalusters, balustrade, banister, handrail, bannister - a railing at the side of a staircase or balcony to prevent people from fallingbar - (law) a railing that encloses the part of the courtroom where the judges and lawyers sit and the case is tried; "spectators were not allowed past the bar"barrier - a structure or object that impedes free movementfife rail - the railing surrounding the mast of a sailing vesselledger board - top rail of a fence or balustradeguardrail, safety rail - a railing placed alongside a stairway or road for safetytaffrail - the railing around the stern of a ship
	2.	rail - short for railway; "he traveled by rail"; "he was concerned with rail safety"railroad, railroad line, railway, railway line, railway system - line that is the commercial organization responsible for operating a system of transportation for trains that pull passengers or freight
	3.	rail - a bar or pair of parallel bars of rolled steel making the railway along which railroad cars or other vehicles can rollrails, runway, trackbar - a rigid piece of metal or wood; usually used as a fastening or obstruction or weapon; "there were bars in the windows to prevent escape"railroad track, railway, railroad - a line of track providing a runway for wheels; "he walked along the railroad track"third rail - a rail through which electric current is supplied to an electric locomotivestreetcar track, tramline, tramway - the track on which trams or streetcars run
	4.	rail - a horizontal bar (usually of wood or metal)bar - a rigid piece of metal or wood; usually used as a fastening or obstruction or weapon; "there were bars in the windows to prevent escape"hitching bar, hitchrack - a fixed horizontal rail to which a horse can be hitched to prevent it from strayingledger board - top rail of a fence or balustradepicture rail - rail fixed to a wall for hanging picturesplate rail - rail or narrow shelf fixed to a wall to display platesfence rail, split rail - a rail that is split from a log
	5.	rail - any of numerous widely distributed small wading birds of the family Rallidae having short wings and very long toes for running on soft mudwader, wading bird - any of many long-legged birds that wade in water in search of foodfamily Rallidae, Rallidae - rails; crakes; gallinules; cootsmaori hen, weka, wood hen - flightless New Zealand rail of thievish disposition having short wings each with a spur used in fightingcrake - any of several short-billed Old World railsnotornis, Notornis mantelli, takahe - flightless New Zealand birds similar to gallinulescoot - slate-black slow-flying birds somewhat resembling ducks
Verb	1.	rail - complain bitterlyinveighkvetch, plain, quetch, complain, sound off, kick - express complaints, discontent, displeasure, or unhappiness; "My mother complains all day"; "She has a lot to kick about"
	2.	rail - enclose with rails; "rail in the old graves"rail inhold in, enclose, confine - close in; darkness enclosed him"
	3.	rail - provide with rails; "The yard was railed"architecture - the profession of designing buildings and environments with consideration for their esthetic effectfurnish, provide, supply, render - give something useful or necessary to; "We provided the room with an electrical heater"
	4.	rail - separate with a railing; "rail off the crowds from the Presidential palace"rail offdivide, separate - make a division or separation
	5.	rail - convey (goods etc.) by rails; "fresh fruit are railed from Italy to Belgium"transport - move something or somebody around; usually over long distances
	6.	rail - travel by rail or train; "They railed from Rome to Venice"; "She trained to Hamburg"trainride - be carried or travel on or in a vehicle; "I ride to work in a bus"; "He rides the subway downtown every day"
	7.	rail - lay with rails; "hundreds of miles were railed out here"lay, put down, repose - put in a horizontal position; "lay the books on the table"; "lay the patient carefully onto the bed"
	8.	rail - fish with a handline over the rails of a boat; "They are railing for fresh fish"fish - catch or try to catch fish or shellfish; "I like to go fishing on weekends"
	9.	rail - spread negative information about; "The Nazi propaganda vilified the Jews"revile, vilify, vituperateblackguard, clapperclaw, abuse, shout - use foul or abusive language towards; "The actress abused the policeman who gave her a parking ticket"; "The angry mother shouted at the teacher"
	10.	rail - criticize severely; "He fulminated against the Republicans' plan to cut Medicare"; "She railed against the bad social policies"fulminatedenounce - speak out against; "He denounced the Nazis"

rail

noun1. handle, railing, shaft, banister, handrail, balustrade She gripped the hand rail in the lift.2. track, points The train left the rails.3. train, locomotive, rolling stock, freightliner He travelled by rail.verb1. complain, attack, abuse, blast, flame (informal), put down, criticize, censure, scold, castigate, revile, tear into (informal), diss (slang, chiefly U.S.), fulminate, inveigh, upbraid, lambast(e), vituperate, vociferate I'd cursed him and railed at him.

Translations

扶手横杆用栏杆围住钢轨

rail

(reil) noun1. a (usually horizontal) bar of metal, wood etc used in fences etc, or for hanging things on. Don't lean over the rail; a curtain-rail; a towel-rail.横杆2. (usually in plural) a long bar of steel which forms the track on which trains etc run. 钢轨 verb (usually with in or off) to surround with a rail or rails. We'll rail that bit of ground off to stop people walking on it.用栏杆围住ˈrailing noun (usually in plural) a fence or barrier of (usually vertical) metal or wooden bars. They've put railings up all round the park.栏杆ˈrailroad noun (American) a railway. 铁路ˈrailway , (American) ˈrailroad noun1. a track with (usually more than one set of) two (or sometimes three) parallel steel rails on which trains run. They're building a new railway; (also adjective) a railway station.铁路2. (sometimes in plural) the whole organization which is concerned with the running of trains, the building of tracks etc. He has a job on the railway; The railways are very badly run in some countries.铁路部门by rail by or on the railway. goods sent by rail.乘火车

rail

→ 扶手zhCN

rail

be off the rails

1. To be in a state of chaos, dysfunction, or disorder. Our project has been off the rails ever since the manager up and quit last month.2. To be crazy, eccentric, or mentally unhinged. I think you should cut back on your drinking—you were totally off the rails last night!See also: off, rail

ride the rail(s)

To travel on a vehicle mounted on rails (especially a train or streetcar). I know it takes a lot longer than flying, but I love riding the rail from Portland to Vancouver. People often romanticize riding the rails across the country as hobos did during the Great Depression, but I doubt many would actually find much pleasure in it.See also: ride

be (as) thin as a rail

To be extremely skinny or slender. Primarily heard in US. Have you seen Claire lately? I'm really worried about her, she's as thin as a rail! I've always been thin as a rail, even when I tried to gain weight.See also: rail, thin

ride on a rail

To be punished harshly, often publicly, and perhaps culminating in exile. The phrase originally referred to a punishment in which a wrongdoer was paraded around town on a rail and then exiled. Now that this scandal is public knowledge, I'm afraid that I'm going to ride on a rail before it's all over.See also: on, rail, ride

be back on the rails

To resume forward progress or momentum. Primarily heard in UK. Now that we have funding again, our research project is back on the rails.See also: back, on, rail

go off the rails

1. To go into a state of chaos, dysfunction, or disorder. Our project has started going off the rails ever since the manager up and quit last month.2. To become crazy, eccentric, or mentally unhinged; to begin acting in an uncontrollable, inappropriate and/or socially unacceptable manner. My youngest son started going off the rails shortly after getting into drugs in high school.See also: go, off, rail

(as) thin as a rail

Extremely skinny or slender. Have you seen Claire lately? She's become as thin as a rail in the last six months! I've always been thin as a rail, even when I try to pack on some muscle.See also: rail, thin

get back on the rails

To resume progress or momentum after becoming stalled or disrupted. Now that we have funding again, our research project has gotten back on the rails.See also: back, get, on, rail

jump the rails

1. Literally, of a train, to derail from the track and lose control. Due to a technical issue, the train wasn't able to slow down ahead of the turn and ended up jumping the rails because of its speed.2. By extension, to veer off in very unexpected directions; to lose or change focus in surprising or bizarre ways. The long-running drama has by this point jumped the rails so completely that it would be foolish to try and summarize it for the uninitiated. The manager's speech really jumped the rails about halfway through, shifting into a weird commentary on the nature of corporate America.See also: jump, rail

on the rails

Operating, functioning, or proceeding as expected, desired, or intended. (The opposite, "off the rails," is more common.) Despite his tendency to ramble and veer off into inappropriate tangents, his speech remained on the rails, evoking downright poetic imagery as he spoke on behalf of the employees who had made the company what it was. It's remarkable that the team's winning formula has stayed on the rails for this many years, as they continue to win championship after championship. His overbearing parents keep a close eye on him to make sure he keeps on the rails and completes his law degree without distraction.See also: on, rail

rail at (one)

To criticize, upbraid, or berate one severely and bitterly, especially at length. Humiliated by his lowly position and poor treatment at work, Tom began railing at his family every evening when he got home. The boss started railing on Thomas in front of the whole office for messing up the Roberston accounts.See also: rail

rail against (someone or something)

To protest, criticize, or vent angrily about someone or something. I spent a lot of my teenage years raging against my parents, but looking back, I gave them way more grief than they deserved. Employees has formed a picket line outside of the company as they rail against proposed cuts to their pay and pension schemes.See also: rail

third rail

An issue or topic that is so controversial that it would immediately damage or destroy one's political career or credibility. An allusion to the electrified rail that powers electric railway systems, its figurative sense is almost exclusively used in relation to politics. Primarily heard in US. I wouldn't even bring it up—trying to withdraw people's social security benefits has long been the third rail of politics. Any talk of dismantling or reforming the current healthcare system has been a political third rail for the last two decades or so.See also: rail, third

line

1. A series of words, as in a conversation, poem, song, etc. He fed the reporters some line about being dedicated to the average worker, but we all know that's a lie. Our songs are really collaborative efforts, and we usually toss lines back and forth to see what fits the song best.2. slang A line of a powdered drug, especially cocaine, meant to be inhaled through one's nose. I walked in to find them snorting lines of coke off our living room table. I started out doing a line or two in the morning to help pick me up for work, but then I slowly found myself needing to keep doing throughout the day.

rails

slang Lines of powdered narcotics, typically cocaine, prepared to be inhaled through the nose. When I saw them cutting up rails on the table, I knew it was time to leave the party.See also: rail

rail against someone or something

to complain vehemently about someone or something. Why are you railing against me? What did I do? Leonard is railing against the tax increase again.See also: rail

rail at someone (about something)

to complain loudly or violently to someone about something. Jane railed at the payroll clerk about not having received her check. I am not responsible for your problems. Don't rail at me!See also: rail

off the rails

In an abnormal or malfunctioning condition, as in Her political campaign has been off the rails for months. The phrase occurs commonly with go, as in Once the superintendent resigned, the effort to reform the school system went off the rails . This idiom alludes to the rails on which trains run; if a train goes off the rails, it stops or crashes. [Mid-1800s] See also: off, rail

thin as a rail

Very slender, as in I do not know why she's dieting; she's thin as a rail already. This simile, which uses rail in the sense of "a narrow bar," has largely replaced such other versions as thin as a lath or rake, although the latter is still common in Britain. [Second half of 1800s] See also: rail, thin

third rail

Something that is dangerous to tamper with, as in Anything concerning veterans is a political third rail. This term alludes to the rail that supplies the high voltage powering an electric train, so called since 1918. On the other hand, grab hold of the third rail means "become energized." Both shifts from the original meaning date from the late 1900s. See also: rail, third

jump the rails

AMERICANIf something jumps the rails it suddenly changes completely so that it seems to be something different. The story doesn't follow the traditional fairy-tale pattern but jumps the rails halfway through.See also: jump, rail

go off the rails

mainly BRITISHCOMMON1. If someone goes off the rails, they start to behave in a way that is wild or unacceptable, doing things that upset other people or are dangerous. He went off the rails in his teens and was a worry to his parents. The tabloids are full of stories of young stars going off the rails.2. If something goes off the rails, it starts to go wrong. By spring, the project seemed to be going off the rails. Clearly something has gone off the rails in the process of government.See also: go, off, rail

on the rails

mainly BRITISH1. If something stays on the rails, it continues to be as successful as it has been in the past. So why have these companies remained on the rails while others have failed? Note: If something is back on the rails, it is beginning to be successful again after a period when it almost failed. Co-ordinated action is needed more than ever to put the European economy back on the rails.2. If someone stays on the rails, they live and behave in a way which is acceptable. She was in a steady relationship and that kept her on the rails. Note: If someone is back on the rails, their life is going well again after a period when it was going badly. I was released from prison last year and I'm now back on the rails with my own apartment and a part-time job.See also: on, rail

jump the rails (or track)

(of a train) become dislodged from the track; be derailed.See also: jump, rail

go off the rails

begin behaving in a strange, abnormal, or wildly uncontrolled way. informal 1998 New Scientist If you had…asked him what he was doing, you might have thought he'd gone off the rails. See also: go, off, rail

on the rails

1 behaving or functioning in a normal or regulated way. informal 2 (of a racehorse or jockey) in a position on the racetrack nearest the inside fence.See also: on, rail

ride the rails

travel by rail, especially without a ticket. North AmericanSee also: rail, ride

get back on the ˈrails

(informal) become successful again after a period of failure, or begin functioning normally again: Even after losing all three of their last matches, the club assures fans that they will get back on the rails in time for their next game.See also: back, get, on, rail

go off the ˈrails

(British English, informal) start behaving in a way which shocks or upsets other people: Away from the routine of army life some ex-soldiers go completely off the rails.These idioms refer to a train leaving the track that it runs on.See also: go, off, rail

rail against

v. To protest something vehemently, especially using strong language: The students railed against the change to a longer school year.See also: rail

rail at

v. To criticize someone or something in harsh, bitter, or abusive language: The workers railed at the new contract that cut medical benefits.See also: rail

line

1. n. a story or argument; a story intended to seduce someone. (see also lines.) Don’t feed me that line. Do you think I was born yesterday? 2. and rail n. a dose of finely cut cocaine arranged in a line, ready for insufflation or snorting. Let’s you and me go do some lines, okay? The addict usually “snorts” one or two of these “rails” with some sort of a tube.

rail

verbSee line

rails

n. powdered cocaine arranged into lines. (Drugs.) Max makes the rails too messy. See also: rail

rail

rail 1

rail 2

rail 3

rail

rail

rail

rail1

rail2

rail3

rail

rail

rail

rail

rail

be off the rails

ride the rail(s)

be (as) thin as a rail

ride on a rail

be back on the rails

go off the rails

(as) thin as a rail

get back on the rails

jump the rails

on the rails

rail at (one)

rail against (someone or something)

third rail

line

rails

rail against someone or something

rail at someone (about something)

off the rails

thin as a rail

third rail

jump the rails

go off the rails

on the rails

jump the rails (or track)

go off the rails

on the rails

ride the rails

get back on the ˈrails

go off the ˈrails

rail against

rail at

line

rail

rails

rail

rail,

Rail

Rail

Rail

REFERENCES

rail

rail

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RAIL

rail

RAIL

rail

Synonyms for rail

noun handle

Synonyms

noun track

Synonyms

noun train

Synonyms

verb complain

Synonyms

Synonyms for rail

noun a barrier consisting of a horizontal bar and supports

Synonyms

Related Words

noun short for railway

Related Words

noun a bar or pair of parallel bars of rolled steel making the railway along which railroad cars or other vehicles can roll

Synonyms

rail¹

rail²

rail³

rail¹

rail²

rail³