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Rail Very Common

Rail has 21 different meanings across 2 categories:

Noun · Verb

Definitions
Noun
1

a barrier consisting of a horizontal bar and supports

"The children tried to climb over the wooden rail that separated them from the busy highway."

2

short for railway

"he traveled by rail"

"he was concerned with rail safety"

3

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

"The old train whistle blew as the steam engine slowly pulled away from the station, its wheels humming against the rusted rail."

4

a horizontal bar (usually of wood or metal)

"The painter climbed up to reach the top rail of the fence and began applying fresh paint."

5

any of numerous widely distributed small wading birds of the family Rallidae having short wings and very long toes for running on soft mud

"We spent hours scanning the marshy banks, hoping to spot a single rail hiding in the tall reeds."

6

A horizontal bar extending between supports and used for support or as a barrier; a railing.

"She wore an old, frayed rail to hide her identity while escaping the city."

7

Any of several birds in the family Rallidae.

8

An item of clothing; a cloak or other garment; a dress.

In plain English: A rail is a long, straight bar fixed to a wall or surface that you can hold onto for support or use as a place to hang things.

"The train clattered along the rusty rail through the countryside."

Verb
1

complain bitterly

"After waiting three hours for the train, he began to rail about how useless public transportation has become in recent years."

2

enclose with rails

"rail in the old graves"

3

provide with rails

"The yard was railed"

4

separate with a railing

"rail off the crowds from the Presidential palace"

5

convey (goods etc.) by rails

"fresh fruit are railed from Italy to Belgium"

6

travel by rail or train

"They railed from Rome to Venice"

"She trained to Hamburg"

7

lay with rails

"hundreds of miles were railed out here"

8

fish with a handline over the rails of a boat

"They are railing for fresh fish"

9

spread negative information about

"The Nazi propaganda vilified the Jews"

10

criticize severely

"He fulminated against the Republicans' plan to cut Medicare"

"She railed against the bad social policies"

11

To travel by railway.

"The melted ice cream began to rail down his chin as he tried to finish the cone in one bite."

12

To complain violently (against, about).

13

To gush, flow.

In plain English: To rail means to complain angrily about something.

"The driver had to rail against the unfair traffic laws that were delaying his delivery."

Usage: Use rail when describing someone complaining loudly or angrily against something specific, often followed by the prepositions at, about, or against. This verb emphasizes a violent outburst of criticism rather than simple dissatisfaction.

Example Sentences
"The train clattered along the rusty rail through the countryside." noun
"He decided to buy tickets for the rail trip across the countryside." noun
"The old wooden rail was loose and needed to be replaced soon." noun
"She leaned against the metal rail while waiting for her train." noun
"The driver had to rail against the unfair traffic laws that were delaying his delivery." verb
Related Terms
Broader Terms (hypernyms)
barrier railway bar wading bird complain enclose supply separate transport ride lay fish abuse denounce
Narrower Terms (hyponyms)
bar fife rail safety rail taffrail third rail hitchrack ledger board picture rail plate rail split rail weka crake notornis coot

Origin

The word rail comes from the Latin regula, meaning "ruler" or "straight bar," which entered English through both Old English and Old French. Its original sense of a straight piece of wood or metal for marking measurements eventually shifted to describe various types of bars, fences, and tracks.

Rhyming Words
ail jail mail hail gail sail tail fail dail zail vail kail pail nail wail brail shail skail flail gmail
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