rail

rail¹ W2S2 [reıl] n

[Date: 1200-1300; : Old French; Origin: reille 'bar', from Latin regula 'ruler', from regere 'to keep straight']

1.) [U]

the railway system

→↑train

▪ the American rail system

▪ a high-speed rail network

▪ Passengers want a better rail service .

▪ the Channel Tunnel and its rail links with London

by rail

▪ We continued our journey by rail.

▪ I need to buy a rail ticket .

▪ cheap rail fares

2.)

one of the two long metal tracks fastened to the ground that trains move along

3.)

a bar that is fastened along or around something, especially to stop you from going somewhere or from falling

▪ Several passengers were leaning against the ship's rail.

→↑guardrail, ↑handrail

4.)

a bar that you use to hang things on

▪ a towel rail

▪ a curtain rail

5.) go off the rails informal

to start behaving in a strange or socially unacceptable way

▪ At 17 he suddenly went off the rails and started stealing.

6.) back on the rails

happening or functioning normally again

▪ The coach was credited with putting the team back on the rails.

rail ²

rail² v

[Date: 1400-1500; : French; Origin: railler 'to make fun of', from Late Latin ragere 'to make the sound of a horse']

1.) [T]

to enclose or separate an area with rails

→↑cordon off rail sth off/in

▪ The police railed off the area where the accident happened.

2.) [I and T] formal

to complain angrily about something, especially something that you think is very unfair

rail against/at

▪ Consumers rail against the way companies fix prices.