# trailer

/ˈtɹeɪɫɝ/ (US) · /tɹˈeɪlɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/trailer
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. towed vehicle

noun · CEFR A2

a vehicle without an engine that is pulled by a car or truck to carry things.

For teachers: an unpowered vehicle designed to be towed by another, typically used for transporting goods, equipment, or livestock.

- We loaded the camping gear into the trailer and hooked it to the back of the car.
- The contractor attached a flatbed trailer to his truck to transport the heavy timber to the construction site before the rain started.

### 2. film preview

noun · CEFR A2

a short video that shows parts of a new movie or game to make people want to see it.

For teachers: a series of excerpts from a film or television programme used for promotional purposes.

- The trailer for the new superhero movie looks much better than the actual film.
- The studio released a cryptic teaser trailer six months before the premiere to generate online discussion among the fan base.

### 3. mobile home

noun · CEFR B1 · American English

a small house on wheels that can be moved or parked in one place to live in.

For teachers: a prefabricated dwelling structure that can be moved by towing, often situated in a dedicated park.

- They lived in a small trailer near the beach during the summer months.
- The family decided to downsize and move into a modern trailer park, citing lower maintenance costs and a closer community feel.

### 4. computing data

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

the last part of a piece of digital information that shows where it ends.

For teachers: the concluding part of a data packet or file, often containing error-checking sequences or end-of-record markers.

- The computer checks the trailer of the data packet to make sure no information was lost.
- If the checksum in the trailer does not match the calculated value, the system requests a retransmission of the entire data frame.

Usage: Often contrasted with the 'header' which appears at the start of the data.

### 5. to transport

verb · CEFR B2

to move something using a trailer.

For teachers: to transport a vehicle or heavy equipment by loading it onto a trailer.

- They had to trailer the broken boat back to the repair shop.
- Because the race car was not street-legal, the team had to trailer it to every circuit on the national tour.

## Examples

- I saw a trailer for the new movie today.
- The studio released a two-minute trailer to build anticipation for the summer blockbuster.
- While the trailer successfully captured the film's visual grandeur, some critics argued it revealed too much of the plot, effectively spoiling the third act for prospective viewers.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.