Skip to definition.

Noun: rails  reylz
  1. A bar or pair of parallel bars of rolled steel making the railway along which railway cars or other vehicles can roll
    - track, rail, runway
Noun: rail  reyl
  1. A barrier consisting of a horizontal bar and supports
    - railing
  2. A horizontal bar (usually of wood or metal)
  3. System of transportation using trains to pull passengers or freight
    "he travelled by rail"; "he was concerned with rail safety";
  4. Any of numerous widely distributed small wading birds of the family Rallidae having short wings and very long toes for running on soft mud
Verb: rail  reyl
  1. Complain bitterly
    - inveigh
  2. Enclose with rails
    "rail in the old graves";
    - rail in
  3. (architecture) provide with rails
    "The yard was railed"
  4. Separate with a railing
    "rail off the crowds from the Presidential palace";
    - rail off
  5. Convey (goods etc.) by rails
    "fresh fruit are railed from Italy to Belgium"
  6. Travel by rail or train
    "They railed from Rome to Venice";
    - train
  7. Lay with rails
    "hundreds of miles were railed out here"
  8. Fish with a handline over the rails of a boat
    "They are railing for fresh fish"
  9. Spread negative information about
    "The Nazi propaganda railed the Jews";
    - vilify, revile, vituperate
  10. Criticize severely
    "She railed against the bad social policies";
    - fulminate

Type of: abuse, bar, barrier, blackguard, clapperclaw [archaic], complain, confine, denounce, divide, enclose, fish, furnish, hold in, kick, kvetch [N. Amer], lay, line, moan, plain [archaic], provide, put down, quetch, render, repose, ride, separate, shout, sound off, supply, transport, wader, wading bird

Part of: balusters, balustrade, banister, bannister, family Rallidae, handrail, railroad [N. Amer], railroad track [N. Amer], railway [Brit, Cdn], railway track [Brit, Cdn], Rallidae, streetcar track, tramline, tramway

Encyclopedia: Rails

Rail, Tram & Bus Union