derail

From WikiWord, the free dictionary

/dəˈɹeɪl/ English

Definitions

noun

A device placed on railway tracks causing a train to derail.“The derail was placed deliberately so that the train would fall into the river.”
An instance of diverting a conversation or debate from its original topic.

verb

To cause to come off the tracks.“The train was destroyed when it was derailed by the penny.”
To come off the tracks.
To deviate from the previous course or direction.“The conversation derailed once James brought up politics.”
To cause to deviate from a set course or direction; derange.“The protesting students derailed the professor's lecture.”

Related words

Synonyms

unrail jump run off the rails scupper veer hamper scuttle block budge backfire erode overturn spoil collapse defeat kill subvert

Associated

derailment derailed fireman dialog wreckage train feminism aspirations talks wendy negotiations locomotive

Rhymes

wail gale avail frail assail travail prevail entail stale unveil

References