rail
rayl
Rail (noun) means a horizontal bar used as a support or barrier, or one of the metal bars that trains run on. Example: “She gripped the rail as the ferry pitched in the swell.”
noun
1
A horizontal bar used as a support or barrier, or one of the metal bars that trains run on.
"She gripped the rail as the ferry pitched in the swell."
"The train slowed as it passed over a section of damaged rail."
"He leaned on the wooden rail at the edge of the bridge and watched the water."
2
Train transport considered as a system or industry.
"More commuters are switching from cars to rail."
"Travelling by rail is often more relaxing than driving on a busy motorway."
"The country is investing heavily in rail to cut down on traffic."
verb
1
To complain loudly and bitterly (usually "rail against" or "rail at").
"Critics railed against the new policy for weeks."
"My grandfather would rail at the television whenever the weather forecast was wrong."
"Residents railed against the noise from the building site next door."
How to use rail
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA bar you hold onto or a track a train runs on — or, as a verb, to complain angrily and persistently about something.
Common mistake
"Rail against" means to complain forcefully, not to physically attack — don't confuse it with a literal assault.
Common pairings
rail against something
travel by rail
a handrail
go off the rails
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Word forms
- Plural
- rails
- Third person singular
- rails
- Past tense
- railed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She gripped the _____ as the ferry pitched in the swell.
Etymology
From Old French reille and Old English regol, both going back to Latin regula, "a rule" or "straight bar" — the same root as "regular" and "rule."
Synonyms
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Rhymes for rail
See all rhymes for rail →Frequently asked questions
What does “rail” mean?
The word “rail” means a horizontal bar used as a support or barrier, or one of the metal bars that trains run on. In plain terms, a bar you hold onto or a track a train runs on — or, as a verb, to complain angrily and persistently about something.
How do you pronounce “rail”?
“Rail” is pronounced rayl (/ɹeɪ(ə)l/ in IPA).
How do you use “rail” in a sentence?
Here is “rail” used in a sentence: “She gripped the rail as the ferry pitched in the swell.”
What part of speech is “rail”?
Depending on how it is used, “rail” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “rail” come from?
The word “rail” comes from Latin. From Old French reille and Old English regol, both going back to Latin regula, "a rule" or "straight bar" — the same root as "regular" and "rule.".
Is “rail” a common word?
“Rail” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “rail” have?
“Rail” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a horizontal bar used as a support or barrier, or one of the metal bars that trains run on.
What are the meanings of rail?
As a noun, rail has two main senses. It can be a horizontal bar that acts as a support or barrier, such as a handrail, guardrail, or towel rail. It can also mean one of the metal tracks that trains run on, and by extension the railway system itself, as in 'travel by rail.'
What is the difference between a rail and a track?
A rail is a single long metal bar, and trains run on two parallel rails. A track is the complete structure they form together, including both rails, the sleepers beneath them, and the ballast. So a track is made up of rails; the rail is the component, the track is the finished pathway.
What is an example of a rail?
Everyday examples include the handrail beside a staircase, the guardrail along a balcony or bridge, a towel rail in a bathroom, and a curtain rail. In the railway sense, the steel rails laid across sleepers form the line that trains travel along, as in the phrase 'shipped by rail.'
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