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tail

tail

580 1.0
The rear part of an animal or object that sticks out at the end
  • noun
  • /teɪl/
: cola
  • Four clawed paws and a tail are now backlit by the setting sun.
  • tail of a cat
  • tail of a dog
  • wagging tail

He didn't even wag his tail or breathe.

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Examples

  • Look at her little sooty tail and her little sooty paws.

  • The comet's long tail illuminated the night sky as it passed by.

  • Jack, look at his little tail, look at them all.

  • This is the right tail and this is the left tail, OK.

  • Oh, I see a big tail, big stretch.

  • The poor thing ran off with its tail between its legs.

  • I think I see his tail!

  • I'll go on this side and hold the tail.

  • Who had hold of the mule's tail, tell me that?

  • I never knew piglets had long, furry tails.

Synonyms

stern
vstail
30 5.8

The back part of a ship or boat

applies to many objects, not only water vessels
tail end
vstail
4 3.7

A part that sticks out at the back of something like an animal's rear

is the general word for the back of animals or objects
quarter
vstail
  • Specialized
2 8.8

The area at the back of a ship

is broader, covering whole back parts not only side areas
empennage
vstail
  • Specialized
1 9.9

The tail part of a plane with small flat parts that help keep it steady

is the general back part term for animals or objects
after part
vstail
  • Specialized
1 9.1

The back part of a ship

is the general term for back parts beyond maritime use
tail assembly
vstail
  • Specialized
1 7.0

The rear part of a plane that helps it stay steady and turn

refers broadly to back parts of many things not only aircraft

Idioms

11 7.9

To follow someone closely and keep bothering them

4 8.4

A small, unimportant part that controls the whole thing

1 8.8

Beat someone by a lot

1 7.5

To keep doing the same task without getting anywhere

To feel very successful and have control of your life

A very short time that means something will happen soon

1 7.7

To waste time on busy work and make no progress

Compounds

16 3.5

The last part of something, especially a period or event

9 3.3

A tail that is long and helps an animal or kite keep balance

8 2.4

A feather that grows on a bird's tail

7 3.3

The tail meat of a lobster that people eat

4 3.0

A deer with white fur under its tail

tail rotor
  • Specialized
4 6.8

A small spinning blade at the tail of a helicopter that keeps it from spinning

long tail
  • Specialized
4 4.9

A market where many rare items, each sold in small numbers, together make a large part of sales

4 3.7

A part that sticks out at the back of something like an animal's rear

piece of tail
  • Offensive
3 9.9

Someone treated only for sex, not as a real person

tail fin
  • Archaic
2 6.4

A decorative metal piece on a car's rear that looks like a small wing

1 2.8

A tail that curves into a small spiral

tail bone
  • Specialized
1 3.6

The small bone at the very end of the spine

tail fin
  • Specialized
1 4.2

A vertical surface at the plane's tail that helps keep it steady in flight

1 3.1

A flat fin at a fish's rear used to push and steer it in water

tail coat
  • Formal
1 4.5

A formal evening jacket for men with a short front and long tails at the back

vertical tail
  • Specialized
1 6.0

The upright fin on a plane's tail that keeps it pointed straight

1 1.0

A tail moving from side to side to show happiness or excitement

1 2.3

A red light at the back of a car that shows it to drivers behind

rat-tail file
  • Specialized
1 9.5

A thin metal tool with a round taper used to smooth small round holes and curves

1 8.2

A long thin white cloud high in the sky that looks like a horse's tail

1 2.1

A strip attached to the end of a kite to keep it steady in the air

tail assembly
  • Specialized
1 7.0

The rear part of a plane that helps it stay steady and turn

1 9.9

A plant that grows near water with long curved spikes of small white flowers

X-tail
  • Specialized
1 9.8

A tail design for an aircraft with four moving parts in an X shape that help control its direction

horizontal tail
  • Specialized
1 4.7

A flat surface at the tail of a plane that keeps the nose level and controls up-and-down movement

A tropical American plant with long, hanging stems and bright red flowers

1 8.5

A tall marsh plant with a brown sausage-shaped seed head and long flat leaves used for making mats and seats

fee tail
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A way of owning land that passes only to family and cannot be sold

A small brown and white moth whose caterpillars eat the leaves of fruit and shade trees

brush-tail porcupine
  • Specialized
9.9

A large animal with sharp spines and a brush of stiff hairs at the end of its tail

A wild pigeon from western North America that is larger than city pigeons

lizard's-tail family
  • Specialized
9.9

A group of herbs that have a strong smell and live for many years

A small flying insect with a white furry body and a yellow tuft at the tail

9.9

A small brown tree shrew from Malaysia with a bare tail fringed by stiff hairs at the tip

9.9

A tropical plant with large bright leaves and a long showy flower spike

9.9

A large brown bird with long, pointed tail feathers that lives in open grasslands

How Long

train
115 1.3
trail
110 1.4
tail
580 1.0
stub
12 3.7
nub
14 6.9

Surface Forms

tail singular
tails plural

Etymology

The word tail comes from an old English word tægl meaning 'a part that hangs or sticks out', like a tuft at the back of an animal. So a tail is the rear part of an animal or the part that sticks out at the end of a ship, plane, or comet.