derail
/ˌdiˈɹeɪl/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: 3.08 in modern English
7
Scrabble Score
6
Letters
2
Syllables
6
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
Synonym of derailer: A device placed on railway tracks in order to cause a train to derail.
Example Sentences
- "The derail was placed deliberately so that the train would fall into the river."
- "The train was destroyed when it was derailed by the collision."
- "Among recommendations arising out of the accident were that greater attention should be devoted to the means of derailing runaways on lines so heavily graded as the Highland main line; were it double throughout, catch points would, of course, be laid in, but the catchpoint problem is a difficult one on a single line."
- "Fortunately, the CrossCountry train did not derail when it struck the mud. It could easily have been much worse."
- "The conversation derailed once James brought up politics."
- "The protesting students derailed the professor's lecture."
Etymology
Origin
- Source language: French
Word Breakdown
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˌdiˈɹeɪl/
- British English: /ˌdiːˈɹeɪl/