tailing

1 of 2

noun

tail·​ing ˈtā-liŋ How to pronounce tailing (audio)
Synonyms of tailingnext
1
: residue separated in the preparation of various products (such as grain or ores)
—usually plural
2
: the part of a projecting stone or brick inserted in a wall

tailing

2 of 2

present participle of tail entry 2

Synonyms of tailing

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Noun

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Examples of tailing in a Sentence

Noun the reporter's constant tailing of the candidate resulted in an exclusive scoop
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Noun
Gallium from gold waste Gold mine tailings are fine, sand-like waste materials which are usually left behind after gold and other valuable minerals are extracted from ore. — Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 9 Oct. 2026 Still, the tungsten from those tailings — in a sense, the mine’s low-hanging fruit — could be ready for sale as soon as early 2027, Haji said. — Sarah Cutler, Idaho Statesman, 19 Sep. 2026 The ability for those tailings to be stored on land safely is a key debate. — Erin Hassanzadeh, CBS News, 21 Aug. 2026 The tailings from that process, called red mud, contain gallium. — Sydney Sasser, Arkansas Online, 20 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for tailing

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1764, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of tailing was in 1764

Rhymes for tailing

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Browse Nearby Words

tail house
tailing
tail joist
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Cite this Entry

“Tailing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tailing. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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