rail
n
1 [C]
(a) level or sloping bar or connected series of bars of wood or metal, eg forming part of a fence, the top of a banister, a protective barrier, etc (護(hù)欄等的)橫條, 橫擋, 扶手
wooden rails in front of an altar 祭壇前的木欄桿
the horses on the rails, ie those on the inside curve of a racecourse 挨近圍欄的馬(在跑道內(nèi)圈一側(cè)的)
Hold the `handrail for safety, eg while descending steps. 抓住扶手以防 倒(如下樓時).
leaning on the ship's (guard-)rail looking out to sea 倚著船上的護(hù)欄眺望大海.
(b) level bar fixed to a wall for hanging things on (固定在墻上用來掛東西的)橫桿
a `towel-rail, eg beside a wash-basin 掛毛巾的橫桿(如臉盆旁的)
a `curtain rail 窗簾橫桿. =>illus at App 1 見附錄1插圖, page xvi.
2
(a) [C esp pl 尤作復(fù)數(shù)]
steel bar or continuous line of steel bars fixed to the ground as one side of a track for trains or trams 鐵軌; 軌道. =>illus at flange 見flange插圖.
(b) [U, often attrib 常作定語]
railways as a means of transport 鐵路(交通); 鐵路運輸
a rail strike 鐵路員工罷工
rail travel, freight, etc 乘火車的旅行、 鐵路貨運
send sth by rail 由鐵路運輸某物 * British Rail 英國鐵路.
3 (idm 習(xí)語) free on board/rail => free1. go off the `rails (Brit infml 口)
(a) become disorganized or out of control 陷於混亂; 失去控制
Our schedule went completely off the rails during the strike. 我們的預(yù)定計畫在罷工期間完全被打亂了.
(b) become mad or crazy 發(fā)瘋; 發(fā)狂. jump the rails/track => jump2. rail, v (phr v) rail sth in/off surround or separate sth with rails 用欄桿圍住或隔開某物
rail off a field (from a road) 用欄桿把場地(與道路)隔開
The winners' enclosure was railed in. 授獎區(qū)有欄桿圍著.
rail v [I, Ipr]
~ (at/against sb/sth) complain, protest or reproach sb/sth strongly 極力抱怨、 挑剔或責(zé)備某人[某事物]
railing against fate 抱怨命運不好
She railed at (him for) his laziness. 她因他懶惰而責(zé)備他.