trailing meaning: definition, quotations

trailing

adj

/ˈtɹeɪ.lɪŋ/

Rail transport, Railways, Transport Of points and crossovers That converge in the direction of travel.

On the far hillside we are approaching can be descried a bridge on the first section (Ruabon–Llangollen) of the important G.W.R. branch to Dolgelley, which will shortly join our main line by means of a trailing junction.1955 January, R. S. McNaught, “From the Severn to the Mersey by Great Western”, in Railway Magazine, page 18:

That follows behind; especially, that is attached and pulled behind.

3 more examples

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On the long, continuous downgrades of East Africa dynamic braking is of special value; the traction motors are used as generators and their energy output dissipated in force-ventilated banks of resistors. This facility enables a 700-ton trailing load, for example, to be brought down a 1 in 66 gradient at any selected speed between 14 and 25 m.p.h. without use of the air brakes.1961 February, “New English Electric diesels for East Africa”, in Trains Illustrated, pages 90–91:
Having reversed at Eastbourne, I am in the trailing car, which leaps and fishtails around so much on our way to Bexhill that I have trouble writing coherent notes.2022 November 16, Paul Bigland, “From rural branches to high-speed arteries”, in RAIL, number 970, page 55:

Antonyms: facing, leading
Derived terms: nontrailing, trailing edge, trailingly, trailing s, trailing spoke
Related terms: trailer, semi-trailer, tractor-trailer

noun

Fabric or other material that trails.

[…] their roots, projecting in fibrous sprawls from their trunks, were their feet, and she pictured them advancing with wide trailings, and rustlings as of green draperies […]1901, Mary E. Wilkins, The Portion of Labor:
All too often, the spout of a soap dispenser rests over the counter and leaves trailings of soap that must be wiped up frequently if a clean appearance is to be maintained.2010, Regina S. Baraban, Joseph F. Durocher, Successful Restaurant Design:

Derived terms: coat-trailing, semi-trailing, trailing arbutus, trailing axle, trailing commission, trailing edge, trailing points, trailing spring, trailing truck, trailing wheel