trailing

Thân thiện

The detective is trailing the suspect through the city park.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • The act of following someone or something by observing and interpreting the tracks, marks, or other signs they leave behind. This is the primary definition, referring specifically to the activity or process of tracking.

Usage

The word "trailing" as a noun is used to describe the specific activity of following a path of evidence. It is often used in contexts involving hunting, investigation, or pursuit. * It is a verbal noun (gerund) derived from the verb "to trail." * It typically refers to a continuous or ongoing activity.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The hounds were expert at the trailing of foxes.
  • The detective's careful trailing of the suspect led to an arrest.
  • The trailing of the wounded animal by the hunter took several hours.

Advanced Usage

• "In trailing": While not a fixed phrase, this prepositional construction can be used to describe being engaged in the activity.
  • The scouts spent the morning in trailing the lost campers.

Variants and Related Words

• Trail (verb): To follow the tracks, scent, or signs of; to follow behind.
  • They tried to trail the fugitive through the forest.
• Trail (noun): A path or track; a mark or series of signs left by a person, animal, or thing.
  • They followed a muddy trail into the woods.
• Tracker (noun): A person or animal that follows a trail.
  • The native guide was an excellent tracker.

Synonyms

• Tracking: The act of following a trail. (Very close synonym, often interchangeable).
• Pursuit: The action of following or chasing someone or something. (Broader term).
• Shadowing: Following and observing someone, especially in a secretive way. (Implies stealth).

Related Phrases

• To be on the trail of: To be in the process of following or searching for someone/something.
  • The journalists were on the trail of a major story.
• To pick up the trail: To find and begin following the signs again.
  • The search party picked up the trail by the riverbank.

Học thuật

Noun

1. the pursuit (of a person or animal) by following tracks or marks they left behind

Từ đồng nghĩa

• tracking