trailer

American  

[trey-ler] / ˈtreɪ lər /

noun

1. a large van or wagon drawn by an automobile, truck, or tractor, used especially in hauling freight by road.

2. Also called travel trailer.  a vehicle attached to an automobile and used as a mobile home or place of business, usually equipped with furniture, kitchen facilities, bathroom, etc.

3. a person or thing that trails.

4. a trailing plant.

5. a short promotional film composed of clips showing highlights of a movie due for release in the near future.

6. blank film at the end of a reel or strip of film, for winding off the film in a motion-picture camera or projector.

7. Ceramics. a can with a spout, used in slip trailing.

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trailer British  

/ ˈtreɪlə /

noun

1. a road vehicle, usually two-wheeled, towed by a motor vehicle: used for transporting boats, etc

2. the part of an articulated lorry that is drawn by the cab

3. a series of short extracts from a film, used to advertise it in a cinema or on television

4. a person or thing that trails

5. Also called (in Britain and certain other countries): caravan.  a large enclosed vehicle capable of being pulled by a car or lorry and equipped to be lived in

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Etymology

Origin of trailer

First recorded in 1580–90; trail + -er ¹

Example Sentences

Woods was arrested after his SUV clipped a trailer being pulled by a pickup truck on Jupiter Island, Florida, near his home.

From Barron's

The latest trailer sees the characters leave the classroom behind and follows them in early adulthood.

From BBC

"Since the trailer, there's been a flood of positivity, people are being incredibly supportive of the show and my involvement in it and that makes me excited for what is to come."

From BBC

The pickup truck driver tried to edge off to the side of the road, but Woods swerved and clipped the back end of the trailer.

From The Wall Street Journal

Woods still clipped the back end of the trailer, resulting in the crash.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• mobile home