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rail

rail

157 1.9
A long bar fixed for people to hold or as a fence
  • noun
  • /reɪl/
translation icon : barandilla
  • Milton's horse, head drooping, dozed against the rail, but the other three were gone.
  • side rails
  • guide rail
  • mounting rails

I just need to get to that stairway and get to the rail, get downstairs.

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Examples

  • 'I saw us leaning on the rail of a ship, 'looking at the sea and the stars.

  • As we stood at the rails, a ferry approached our ship.

    Academic text (2012)
  • Just hold onto the rail.

  • So single rail, multi rail, which is the right choice?

  • What I'm going to do is I'm going to build a rail here like this.

  • And can we put up the side rails on his bed?

  • Her mother would be standing by the rail, hungry to see Christina.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • Be careful stepping in and out and remember, don't touch the rails unless you have to.

    Academic text (1996)
  • A moment later he's leaning on the rail, allowing the wind to caress him.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • The children held onto the safety rail while climbing the stairs.

Synonyms

guardrail
vsrail
17 3.4

A strong railing at the edge of places like roads and bridges that stops people or vehicles from falling

is a general horizontal bar that may be less heavy or protective
railing
vsrail
14 1.6

A row of bars and posts along an edge, like on stairs or balconies, to stop people from falling

is a simple horizontal bar used for fences, handholds, or track parts
handrail
vsrail
11 1.8

A bar fixed beside stairs or a balcony that you hold for support

is a horizontal bar used more generally for fences, supports, or track parts
handrailing
vsrail
1 2.9

A rail you hold for support on stairs or ramps

is a horizontal bar used in many roles beyond just hand support
safety rail
vsrail
1 2.3

A strong bar along stairs or platforms that stops people from falling

is a broader horizontal bar concept used for many purposes including safety
fence rail
vsrail
1 2.8

A long narrow piece of wood that sits across posts to make a barrier

is a horizontal bar used in contexts beyond fence building
bedrail
vsrail
4.1

A long bar along a bed frame that supports the mattress

is a general horizontal bar used across many objects, not only furniture

Idioms

skinny as a rail
  • Informal
1 7.0

Very thin person with little or no fat

9.9

To be publicly punished or laughed at in a way that shames you

Compounds

16 2.8

Tracks and the ground they sit on that form a route for trains

third rail
  • Specialized
4 7.7

An extra rail beside train tracks that provides electricity to trains

1 4.3

A fence made of long wooden rails laid in a zigzag to keep animals in

1 2.8

A long narrow piece of wood that sits across posts to make a barrier

fife rail
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A low fence around a sailing ship's mast that holds ropes or supports people

rail technology
  • Specialized
1 4.4

The planning, building, and running of trains, tracks, and stations

rail-splitter
  • Archaic
1 8.8

A person who splits logs to make wooden rails for fences

1 2.3

A strong bar along stairs or platforms that stops people from falling

1 6.1

A long wooden piece cut lengthwise from a log used in fences

1 4.8

A fence made from split logs stacked horizontally in a zigzag

bilevel rail car
  • Specialized
5.2

A train car with two levels of seats to carry more passengers

A train car with two levels of seats to carry more passengers

9.0

A small brown bird that lives in fields and meadows, often hidden in tall grass

loot rail
  • Jargon
9.5

A system in a game that gives items fairly to each player

A narrow rail fixed high on a wall for hanging paintings

A narrow shelf fixed to a wall for showing plates and small decorations

2.5

A bar fixed to a wall for hanging towels to dry

A low wooden fence made of rails in a zigzag that marks a border

How Sturdy

guardrail
17 3.4
beam
104 2.7
rail
157 1.9
bar
416 1.0
slat
16 4.0

Surface Forms

rail singular
rails plural

Etymology

Rail comes from an old word meaning 'bar' or 'rod' and appears in English words like railing and handrail. So a rail is a long bar used as a fence or a handhold.