rail
noun uk/reɪl/ us/reɪl/
(TRAINS)
B1 [ U ]铁路交通；铁路交通系统
the system of transport that uses trains
Environmentalists argue that more goods should be transported by rail. 环保主义者们主张应该更加充分利用铁路来运输货物。
[ C ]铁轨
one of the two metal bars attached to the ground on which trains travel
A train left/went off the rails and crashed into the bank, killing several passengers. 一列火车脱轨后撞到路堤上，造成数名乘客死亡。
- More examples
- An inquiry was ordered into the recent rail disaster.
- Government sources estimate a long-term 50% increase in rail fares.
- The rail system is to put 20 million pounds into its modernization programme.
- The question is whether road transit is cheaper than rail.
- The resort is easily accessible by road, rail and air.
(BAR)
C2 [ C ]（尤指固定在墙上或竖杆上的）横杆，栏杆，扶手
a horizontal bar fixed in position, especially to a wall or to vertical posts, used to close something off, as a support, or to hang things on
Will spectators please stay behind the rail? 观众们请站在栏杆后面好吗？
Hold onto the rail so that you don't fall. 抓牢扶手，这样就不会摔倒了。
The (clothes) rail in her wardrobe was crammed full of dresses. 她大衣橱里面挂满了衣服。
- More examples
- The bathroom has a heated towel rail.
- I watched an old woman pull herself up the stairs, holding on to a rail.
- They leaned over the rails and peered down into the dizzying chasm below.
- The rails were full of expensive clothes.
- We have a heated towel rail in our bathroom.
Idiom
go off the railsidiom 举止怪异;越过道德底线，行为不轨
to start behaving in a way that is not generally acceptable, especially dishonestly or illegally
He went off the rails in his first year at university. 他刚上大学一年级行为就很出格。
rail
verb [ I + prep ] formal uk/reɪl/ us/reɪl/
谴责;抱怨
to complain angrily
He railed against/at the injustices of the system. 他强烈谴责该制度的不公正。
Synonyms: attack (CRITICIZE)castigate censure chastise (CRITICIZE) condemncriticizedamn (BLAME)decry denounce (CRITICIZE)excoriate revile slam
Phrasal verb
rail something off （尤指用栏杆）把…围起，把…圈住，把…隔开
to close something, especially using railings
Part of the playing field had been railed off for use as a car park. 运动场的一部分被栏杆隔开，用作停车场。