Tailed

/teɪld/

Meaning & Definition

verb

Past tense of 'tail,' referring to the act of following or tracking someone or something.

The detective tailed the suspect discreetly as he moved through the city.

To attach a tail to something.

She tailed the kite with a long ribbon to help it soar higher.

adjective

Having a tail or tails, often used to describe animals or physical objects.

The tiger, with its long, tailed body, prowled through the grass.

Characterized by a certain form or structure resembling a tail.

The comet was a spectacular sight, with its glowing, tailed appendage stretching across the sky.

Referring to something that has a specific feature often associated with a tail.

The dancer wore a beautiful costume with a tailed cape that flowed behind her.

Derived from the noun 'tail', combined with the suffix '-ed' to describe a characteristic.

long-tailed:

Referring to something that has a lengthy tail or a large number of variants.

short-tailed:

Describing something with a shortened or abbreviated tail.

tailing off:

Gradually diminishing in extent or volume.

To be followed or shadowed closely, usually with a negative connotation.

He felt tailed by his old rivals after his success.

In some contexts, it can refer to being suspicious or under surveillance.

I think I'm being tailed; I keep seeing the same car behind me.