An Encylopedia Britannica Company

rail

1 rail /ˈreɪl/ noun
plural rails
1 rail
/ˈreɪl/
noun
plural rails
Britannica Dictionary definition of RAIL
[count]
: a bar that goes from one post or support to another and that is used to form a barrier
see picture at house; see also guardrail, handrail
: a bar used to hang something from
[count] : one of the bars of steel that form a train's track usually plural
see also third rail
[noncount] : 1railroad
often used before another noun
see also monorail

go off the rails

informal
: to lose control and start to behave in a way that is not normal or acceptable
2 rail /ˈreɪl/ verb
rails; railed; railing
2 rail
/ˈreɪl/
verb
rails; railed; railing
Britannica Dictionary definition of RAIL
[+ object]
: to use rails to create a barrier around or at the edge of (something) usually + off
compare 3rail
3 rail /ˈreɪl/ verb
rails; railed; railing
3 rail
/ˈreɪl/
verb
rails; railed; railing
Britannica Dictionary definition of RAIL
[no object] formal
: to complain angrily about something
compare 2rail