the hindmost part of an animal, especially when prolonged beyond the rest of the body, such as the flexible extension of the backbone in a vertebrate, the feathers at the hind end of a bird, or a terminal appendage in an insect

the dog's tail began to wag frantically

a thing resembling an animal's tail in its shape or position, typically extending downwards or outwards at the end of something

the tail of a capital Q

the end of a long train or line of people or vehicles

a catering truck at the tail of the convoy

a person secretly following another to observe their movements

I can't put a tail on him, I don't know where he's gone

a person's buttocks

the coach kicked Ryan in his tail

the side of a coin without the image of a head on it (used when tossing a coin to determine a winner)

the chances of heads and tails in the long run are equal

follow and observe (someone) closely, especially in secret

a flock of paparazzi had tailed them all over London

provide with a tail

her calligraphy was topped by banners of black ink and tailed like the haunches of fabulous beasts

the eight main chapters are topped and tailed with an introduction and an epilogue

(of an object in flight) drift or curve in a particular direction

the next pitch tailed in on me at the last second

remove the stalks or ends of (fruit or vegetables) in preparation for cooking

pull on the end of (a rope) after it has been wrapped round the drum of a winch a few times, in order to prevent slipping when the winch rotates

join (one thing) to another

limitation of ownership, especially of an estate or title limited to a person and their direct descendants

the land was held in tail general