rails Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a bar or pair of parallel bars of rolled steel making the railway along which railroad cars or other vehicles can roll
    track; runway; rail.
  2. noun a barrier consisting of a horizontal bar and supports
    rail; railing.
  3. noun short for railway
    rail.
    • he traveled by rail
    • he was concerned with rail safety
  4. noun a horizontal bar (usually of wood or metal)
    rail.
  5. noun any of numerous widely distributed small wading birds of the family Rallidae having short wings and very long toes for running on soft mud
    rail.
  6. verb complain bitterly
    rail; inveigh.
  7. verb enclose with rails
    rail; rail in.
    • rail in the old graves
  8. verb provide with rails
    rail.
    • The yard was railed
  9. verb separate with a railing
    rail; rail off.
    • rail off the crowds from the Presidential palace
  10. verb convey (goods etc.) by rails
    rail.
    • fresh fruit are railed from Italy to Belgium
  11. verb travel by rail or train
    train; rail.
    • They railed from Rome to Venice
    • She trained to Hamburg
  12. verb lay with rails
    rail.
    • hundreds of miles were railed out here
  13. verb fish with a handline over the rails of a boat
    rail.
    • They are railing for fresh fish
  14. verb spread negative information about
    vituperate; vilify; rail; revile.
    • The Nazi propaganda vilified the Jews
  15. verb criticize severely
    rail; fulminate.
    • He fulminated against the Republicans' plan to cut Medicare
    • She railed against the bad social policies

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