tail — the hindmost part of an animal, especially when prolonged beyond the rest of the body
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: the hindmost part of an animal, especially when prolonged beyond the rest of the body
Pronunciation (IPA): /teɪl/
Example Sentences
- My cat's tail looks like a feather duster when she's angry.
- The spy movie showed agents tailing each other through the crowded market.
- He always sits at the tail of the classroom to avoid the teacher's attention.
tail
NOUN[/teɪl/]
the hindmost part of an animal, especially when prolonged beyond the rest of the body
Child touching dog's wagging tail
The cat's tail watches the sail fail!
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Derived from Old English 'tægl', the word shares a common ancestor with other Germanic languages. Originally denoting an animal's posterior appendage, the term gradually expanded to encompass meanings such as 'end part' and 'to follow behind'.
Breakdown
Old English 'tægl' underwent phonetic evolution through Middle English 'tayl' to modern English 'tail', reflecting standard sound changes in the development of English from the Germanic language family.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My cat's tail looks like a feather duster when she's angry.”
“The spy movie showed agents tailing each other through the crowded market.”
“He always sits at the tail of the classroom to avoid the teacher's attention.”
“The comet's bright tail was visible for weeks in the night sky.”
📚Related Words
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