Words / B2

TRAYL/treɪl/

A trail is a path, a series of marks left behind, or a route for visitors: a nature trail; a paper trail. Track is rails or a sports path (already in the dictionary); trial is a test or court case (later entries). Follow the paper trail in the audit, not a slogan. Verb: trail (follow, or hang behind). Mix-up: trial / train. Do not write trail for a motorway.

Meaning

A path, a series of marks left behind, or a visitor route; as a verb, to follow or hang behind.

Examples

• “Follow the paper trail in the audit, not a slogan on the leaflet.”
• “A nature trail closed after the landslide, which is the path sense.”

Good to know

a paper / audit / nature trail; trail behind; trail + suspect. Close: track. Trap: trial / train. Geography, history, and news. A path or a sequence of clues, not a dual carriageway.

Near in meaning

path

New