rail

noun

1. a barrier consisting of a horizontal bar and supports

Similar word(s): railing

Definition categories: man–made, barrier

2. short for railway

- he traveled by rail

- he was concerned with rail safety

Definition categories: man–made, railroad, railway

3. a bar or pair of parallel bars of rolled steel making the railway along which railroad cars or other vehicles can roll

Similar word(s): rails, runway, track

Definition categories: man–made, bar

4. a horizontal bar (usually of wood or metal)

Definition categories: man–made, bar

5. any of numerous widely distributed small wading birds of the family Rallidae having short wings and very long toes for running on soft mud

Definition categories: animal, wader

verb

1. complain bitterly

Similar word(s): inveigh

Definition categories: communication, complain, kick, kvetch, plain, quetch

2. enclose with rails

- rail in the old graves

Definition categories: stative, confine, enclose

3. provide with rails

- The yard was railed

Definition categories: possession, furnish, provide, render, supply

4. separate with a railing

- rail off the crowds from the Presidential palace

Definition categories: motion, divide, separate

5. convey (goods etc.) by rails

- fresh fruit are railed from Italy to Belgium

Definition categories: motion, transport

6. travel by rail or train

- They railed from Rome to Venice

Similar word(s): train

Definition categories: motion, ride

7. lay with rails

- hundreds of miles were railed out here

Definition categories: contact, lay, repose

8. fish with a handline over the rails of a boat

- They are railing for fresh fish

Definition categories: competition, fish

9. spread negative information about

Similar word(s): revile, vilify, vituperate

Definition categories: communication, abuse, blackguard, clapperclaw, shout

10. criticize severely

- She railed against the bad social policies

Similar word(s): fulminate

Definition categories: communication, denounce