[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/rail/)

[dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [R](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/r/) / rail

# rail

noun (a rail, rails; rail — the railway system); verb (rail — to complain angrily, rare)

«rail» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. A rail is a long bar fixed in place, used to hold on to, to hang things on, or to make a fence. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/rail/#m1)
2. Rails are the metal bars that trains run on. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/rail/#m2)
3. Rail means the railway, as in travel by rail. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/rail/#m3)
4. To rail at someone means to complain or shout angrily at them. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/rail/#m4)

### In the lessons

In safety, hold the hand rail on stairs and escalators, and never climb on balcony rails. Train rails can be very dangerous: never play on or near railway lines, and cross only at proper crossings when lights and barriers show it is safe; some rails carry electricity. In everyday life, clothes hang on a rail; towels on a towel rail. In geography, rail transport moves people and goods. «Off the rails» means out of control.

### Examples

- Hold on to the rail when you go down the stairs. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/rail/#x1)
- Never play near the railway rails. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/rail/#x2)
- The train runs on metal rails. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/rail/#x3)
- We travelled by rail from London to Edinburgh. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/rail/#x4)
- Hang your coat on the rail. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/rail/#x5)
- The towel rail in the bathroom is warm. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/rail/#x6)
- Don't lean over the balcony rail. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/rail/#x7)
- And the poor wife put everything to rights, and reproached and railed at her husband. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/rail/#x8)

### Note

Countable for bars (a rail, rails); uncountable for the system (by rail). «Railway» (UK) or «railroad» (US). «Railing(s)» = a fence of rails. «Handrail» = a rail to hold.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «rail» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/rail/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«rail» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/rail.html) on Mova free.