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Derail

//ˌdəˈɹeɪ.əl// noun, verb

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    Synonym of derailer: A device placed on railway tracks in order to cause a train to derail.

    "The derail was placed deliberately so that the train would fall into the river."

  2. 2
    An instance of diverting a conversation or debate from its original topic.
Verb
  1. 1
    To cause to come off the tracks. transitive

    "The train was destroyed when it was derailed by the collision."

  2. 2
    run off or leave the rails wordnet
  3. 3
    To come off the tracks. intransitive

    "Fortunately, the CrossCountry train did not derail when it struck the mud. It could easily have been much worse."

  4. 4
    cause to run off the tracks wordnet
  5. 5
    To deviate from the previous course or direction. figuratively, intransitive

    "The conversation derailed once James brought up politics."

Show 1 more definition
  1. 6
    To cause to deviate from a set course or direction. figuratively, transitive

    "The protesting students derailed the professor's lecture."

Etymology

Etymology 1

From French dérailler (“to go off the rails”). Analyzable as de- + rail.

Etymology 2

From French dérailler (“to go off the rails”). Analyzable as de- + rail.

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