trailing

adjective

1. 1

   That converge in the direction of travel.

   On the far hillside we are approaching can be descried a bridge on the first section (Ruabon–Llangollen) of the important G.W.R. branch to Dolgelley, which will shortly join our main line by means of a trailing junction.

2. 2

   That follows behind; especially, that is attached and pulled behind.

   the trailing railcars

   the trailing comments

   no trailing whitespace characters

   On the long, continuous downgrades of East Africa dynamic braking is of special value; the traction motors are used as generators and their energy output dissipated in force-ventilated banks of resistors. This facility enables a 700-ton trailing load, for example, to be brought down a 1 in 66 gradient at any selected speed between 14 and 25 m.p.h. without use of the air brakes.

verb

1. 1

   Also a form of trailpresent participle and gerund of trail

noun

1. 1

   Fabric or other material that trails.

   […] their roots, projecting in fibrous sprawls from their trunks, were their feet, and she pictured them advancing with wide trailings, and rustlings as of green draperies […]

   All too often, the spout of a soap dispenser rests over the counter and leaves trailings of soap that must be wiped up frequently if a clean appearance is to be maintained.

Forms

plural

trailings