rail
//ɹeɪ(ə)l//
Forms
- Plural
- rails
- present (v1)
- rail
- past (v2)
- railed
- past participle (v3)
- railed
- present participle
- railing
- 3rd person singular
- rails
Definitions
1.The metal bar forming part of the track for a railroad.
2.A railroad; a railway, as a means of transportation.
- We travelled to the seaside by rail.
3.A conductor maintained at a fixed electrical potential relative to ground, to which other circuit components are connected.
- ISA devices draw power from the +5 V, −5 V, +12 V, and −12 V rails of the power supply unit.
4.A horizontal bar extending between supports and used for support or as a barrier; a railing.
1.To travel by railway.
2.To place on a track.
3.To range in a line.
- They were brought to London all railed in ropes, like a team of horses in a cart.
4.To enclose with rails or a railing.
- It ought to be fenced in and railed.
- They ought to rail off the playground.
Frequency
Overall
Uncommon· #3700
By learning goal
- Everyday conversation
- Rare
- General reading & writing
- Uncommon
- Academic
- Rare
- Literature
- Rare
Related words
Word family
Etymology
From Middle English rail, rayl, *reȝel, *reȝol (found in reȝolsticke (“a ruler”)), partly from Old English regol (“a ruler, straight bar”) and partly from Old French reille; both from Latin regula (“rule, bar”), from regō (“to rule, to guide, to govern”); see regular.