tail

The part that sticks out from the back of an animal's body.

• The dog has a short tail.
• Our cat lifted her tail.
• Some lizards can grow new tails.

Common phrases: wag its tail, a long tail, cat's tail

The back part of an aircraft, which helps control its direction and keep it steady.

• The plane's tail is blue.
• Engineers checked the damaged tail.
• Ice had formed on the aircraft's tail.

Similar words: empennage

Common phrases: aircraft tail, tail fin, plane's tail

The side of a coin opposite the side with a person's head, usually called tails.

• The coin's tail shows a bird.
• Heads or tails: which do you choose?
• The coin landed tails up.

Similar words: reverse

Opposites: head

Common phrases: tail side, coin's tail

To follow someone secretly to find out where they go or what they do.

• The detective tailed the suspect.
• Someone has been tailing our car.
• Can you tail him without being seen?

Similar words: follow, shadow

Common phrases: tail someone, tail a car, tail the suspect

To turn a boat’s back end in a particular direction while the boat is held by an anchor.

• The anchored boat began to tail downstream.
• Both vessels tailed upstream as the tide changed.
• The yacht tails into the wind at anchor.

Similar words: swing

Common phrases: tail downstream, tail upstream, tail into wind

Limited or reduced, especially when property can pass only to certain members of a family.

• He inherited an estate tail.
• The land was held in fee tail.
• A grant in tail male excluded daughters from inheriting.

Similar words: limited, restricted

Opposites: unrestricted

Common phrases: estate tail, fee tail, tail male