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rail

n. · v.
US //ˈɹeɪɫ// UK //ɹˈeɪl// rail
  1. 1 support bar (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    a horizontal bar used for support or to stop people from falling.

    a horizontal bar extending between supports, functioning as a handhold or a protective barrier.

    Example

    Please hold onto the rail while the boat is moving.

    Example

    The safety inspector noted that the hand rail on the western staircase was loose and required immediate reinforcement.
  2. 2 train track (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    one of the metal bars that a train travels on.

    the steel bar forming part of a permanent way for a railroad.

    Example

    The train stayed on the rails despite the heavy snow.

    Example

    Engineers inspected the rails for thermal expansion after the record-breaking heatwave caused several minor alignment issues.
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  1. 3 railway system (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    the system of transport using trains.

    the railway as a mode of transport or an industrial sector.

    Example

    Traveling by rail is often faster than driving between major cities.

    Example

    The government announced a significant investment in rail to reduce the carbon footprint of national logistics.
  2. 4 electronics (n.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Computing

    a part of a circuit that carries a specific voltage.

    a conductor maintained at a fixed electrical potential relative to ground.

    Example

    The technician checked the 12V rail on the power supply.

    Example

    Fluctuations on the 5V rail can cause instability in the processor, leading to unexpected system reboots.
  3. 5 to complain loudly (v.)
    C1 Advanced Literary

    to complain or protest very strongly against something.

    to complain or protest vehemently or violently. Intransitive; typically takes the preposition 'against'.

    Example

    The citizens railed against the new taxes in the town square.

    Example

    In his weekly column, the journalist continued to rail against the perceived corruption within the local administration.
  4. 6 to enclose (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to put a fence or bars around an area.

    to enclose or provide an area with a railing.

    Example

    They decided to rail off the garden to keep the dogs out.

    Example

    The construction crew worked to rail off the excavation site to prevent pedestrians from accidentally wandering into the danger zone.
Etymology 1

From Middle English rail, rayl, reȝel, reȝol (found in reȝolsticke (“a ruler”)), partly from Old English regol (“a ruler, straight bar”) and partly from Old French reille; both from Latin regula (“rule, bar”), from regō (“to rule, to guide, to govern”); see regular. Doublet of regal, regula, rigol, and rule.

Etymology 2

From French râle, rale, from Middle French raalle, from Old French rasle. Compare Medieval Latin rallus. Named from its harsh cry, Vulgar Latin *rasculum, from Latin rādere (“to scrape”).

Etymology 3

From Middle French railler.

Etymology 4

From Middle English rail, reil, from Old English hræġl (“garment, dress, robe”). Cognate with Old Frisian hreil, reil, Old Saxon hregil, Old High German hregil (“clothing, garment, dress”).

Etymology 5

Probably from Anglo-Norman raier, Middle French raier.

Word family
Idioms2 entries

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