Definition

1. Noun:

   • A horizontal bar used as part of a fence, barrier, or for support: A long, narrow bar of wood, metal, or other material, often fixed horizontally to a wall, post, or vertical structure.
   • A steel bar forming part of a railway track: One of the pair of parallel steel bars on which the wheels of a train run.
   • The railway system as a means of transport: Used as a short form for 'railway' or 'railroad', referring to the system or method of transport.
   • A small wading bird: A bird of the family Rallidae, characterized by short wings and long toes for walking on soft ground.

2. Verb:

   • To complain or protest vehemently and bitterly: To express strong disapproval, anger, or criticism in a loud, harsh, or abusive manner.
   • To enclose, separate, or provide with a rail or rails: To fit or surround an area with a barrier made of rails.
   • To transport by railway: To send goods or travel via train.
   • To fish using a handline over the side of a boat: A specific method of fishing.

Usage and Examples

• Noun:

  • He held onto the rail as he walked down the steep stairs. (Referring to a handrail for support.)
  • The train sped along the rails. (Referring to the steel tracks.)
  • She prefers to travel by rail. (Referring to the railway system.)
  • A water rail is often heard but rarely seen in the marshes. (Referring to the bird.)

• Verb:

  • The politician railed against government corruption for an hour. (Complaining bitterly.)
  • They decided to rail off the construction site for safety. (Enclosing with a barrier.)
  • Fresh produce is railed to the city daily. (Transporting by train.)
  • The old sailor taught him how to rail for mackerel. (Fishing from a boat.)

Advanced Usage

• "To go off the rails": To lose control, become disorganized, or start behaving in an unacceptable or chaotic way.
  • After he lost his job, his life really went off the rails.
• "On the rails": Functioning correctly, proceeding as planned or expected.
  • The project is finally back on the rails after the initial delays.

Variants and Related Words

• Railway/Railroad (n): The entire system of tracks, trains, and related infrastructure.
• Railing (n): A fence or barrier made of rails and their supports, especially along the edge of something.
• Railcar (n): A single vehicle that runs on rails, such as a passenger car.
• Railbird (n, informal): A spectator at a horse race, typically standing at the rails.

Synonyms

• Noun (Bar): Bar, rod, handrail, balustrade.
• Noun (Track): Track, line.
• Verb (Complain): Complain, protest, inveigh, fulminate, rant.
• Verb (Enclose): Fence, enclose, barricade, cordon off.

Phrasal Verbs and Constructions

• Rail against/at: To protest or complain angrily about someone or something.
  • He constantly rails against the inefficiency of the bureaucracy.
• Rail in: To enclose an area with rails or a fence.
  • They railed in the garden to keep the deer out.
• Rail off: To separate or mark an area by putting rails around it.
  • A section of the park was railed off for the concert.

Idioms

• "Thin as a rail": Extremely thin or skinny.
  • After his illness, he was thin as a rail.
• "Free as a bird on a rail": (Less common) A play on words suggesting a sense of freedom, though a rail bird is often secretive.

Noun

1. any of numerous widely distributed small wading birds of the family Rallidae having short wings and very long toes for running on soft mud
2. a horizontal bar (usually of wood or metal)
3. a bar or pair of parallel bars of rolled steel making the railway along which railroad cars or other vehicles can roll
4. short for railway
   • he traveled by rail
   • he was concerned with rail safety
5. a barrier consisting of a horizontal bar and supports

Verb

1. criticize severely
   • He fulminated against the Republicans' plan to cut Medicare
   • She railed against the bad social policies
2. spread negative information about
   • The Nazi propaganda vilified the Jews
3. fish with a handline over the rails of a boat
   • They are railing for fresh fish
4. lay with rails
   • hundreds of miles were railed out here
5. travel by rail or train
   • They railed from Rome to Venice
   • She trained to Hamburg
6. convey (goods etc.) by rails
   • fresh fruit are railed from Italy to Belgium
7. separate with a railing
   • rail off the crowds from the Presidential palace
8. provide with rails
   • The yard was railed
9. enclose with rails
   • rail in the old graves
10. complain bitterly