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1[countable] the part that sticks out and can be moved at the back of the body of a bird, an animal, or a fish The dog ran up, wagging its tail. The male has beautiful tail feathers. see ponytail
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-tailed - 2(in adjectives) having the type of tail mentioned a white-tailed eagle
- 3[countable] the back part of a plane, spacecraft, etc. the tail wing back/end of something
- 4[countable] tail (of something) a part of something that sticks out at the back like a tail the tail of a kite
- 5[countable] tail (of something) the last part of something that is moving away from you the tail of the procession see tail end jacket
- 6tails [plural] = tailcoat He was wearing a top hat and tails. see coattails, shirttail side of coin
- 7tails [uncountable] the side of a coin that does not have a picture of the head of a person on it, used as one choice when a coin is tossed to decide something compare head
- 8[countable] (informal) a person who is sent to follow someone secretly and find out information about where that person goes, what they do, etc. The police have put a tail on him.
of bird/animal/fish
NAmE//ˈteɪlləs//
adjective Manx cats are tailless.Idioms following behind someone very closely, especially in a car That white van has been on my tail for the past ten miles.
used to describe a situation in which the most important aspect is being influenced and controlled by someone or something that is not as important
to run away from a fight or dangerous situation When they heard the sirens, they turned tail and ran.
feeling ashamed or unhappy because you have been defeated or punishedSee tail in the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
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