1trail 
/ˈtreɪl/ verb
trails; trailed; trail·ing /ˈtreɪl/ verb 1 a [+ obj] : to pull (something) behind you especially on the ground
▪ The dog was trailing [=dragging] its leash. ▪ The little girl went to her room, trailing her teddy bear behind her.
b [no obj] : to be pulled behind someone or something
▪ The dog's leash was trailing along/on the ground. ▪ The little girl's teddy bear trailed behind her. 2 : to walk or move slowly as you follow behind (someone or something) [+ obj] ▪ He trailed us as we worked our way up the mountain. [no obj] ▪ She marched down the street with her children trailing (along) behind/after (her). ▪ He trailed behind (us) as we worked our way up the mountain. 3 : to be behind in a race or competition [no obj] ▪ The President is trailing in the polls as the election approaches. ▪ We were trailing by 3 runs at the end of the 6th inning. [+ obj] ▪ Our team trailed their team at the end of the 6th inning. 4 [+ obj] : to follow and watch or try to catch (someone or something)
▪ The dogs were trailing a fox. ▪ Police trailed the suspect for six blocks. 5 always followed by an adverb or preposition [no obj] : to move, flow, or extend slowly in a thin line
▪ Smoke trailed (away) from the chimney. ▪ A tear trailed down her cheek. 6 [no obj] : to hang down to the ground
▪ The curtains trailed onto the floor. — see also trailing
▪ The dog was trailing [=dragging] its leash. ▪ The little girl went to her room, trailing her teddy bear behind her.
b [no obj] : to be pulled behind someone or something
▪ The dog's leash was trailing along/on the ground. ▪ The little girl's teddy bear trailed behind her.
▪ The dogs were trailing a fox. ▪ Police trailed the suspect for six blocks.
▪ Smoke trailed (away) from the chimney. ▪ A tear trailed down her cheek.
▪ The curtains trailed onto the floor. — see also trailing
trail away/off [phrasal verb]
— used to say that someone's voice becomes softer and softer and then stops ▪ She started asking him a question, but then her voice trailed off. ▪ “Do you think you could…” she said before trailing off.
