trailer
trailer — noun
1. a wheeled container that connects to the back of a car or truck, designed to car
a wheeled container that connects to the back of a car or truck, designed to carry furniture, building supplies, or other heavy loads across town or between cities.
Marta loaded her furniture into the trailer before driving to the new house.
collocation: load + into + trailer
The construction crew filled the trailer with bricks and bags of cement.
passive pattern: filled with [materials]
The crew used a flatbed trailer to move steel pipes from the storage yard to the building site.
The moving truck had a trailer hitched behind it stacked with boxes.
文法句型
trailer + for + noun phrase
用法筆記
When the specific purpose matters, add a modifier: 'utility trailer' for small general loads, 'horse trailer' for animals, or 'flatbed trailer' for oversized items.
常見錯誤
2. the separate cargo container behind a large truck's cab that can be disconnected
the separate cargo container behind a large truck's cab that can be disconnected for loading and unloading freight over long distances.
The delivery driver opened the back of the trailer to unload the packages.
Sade climbed into the trailer and checked that the wooden crates of electronics were stacked safely against the walls.
movement verb: climbed into the trailer
A bright yellow sticker on the side of the trailer warned that the electronic equipment inside was fragile.
The warehouse workers sealed the trailer doors after loading the office furniture for the overnight delivery.
- container
a metal box for shipping goods that can be lifted on and off ships and trains; not attached to a cab
文法句型
the trailer of + noun phrase
用法筆記
In this sense 'trailer' refers only to the cargo box, not the whole truck. The cab that contains the driver is called the 'tractor' or 'cab.'
常見錯誤
3. a wheeled living space with beds and a kitchen, designed to be pulled behind a v
a wheeled living space with beds and a kitchen, designed to be pulled behind a vehicle and used for holidays, camping trips, or as a temporary home.
The Huang family spent two weeks in a trailer by the beach last summer.
collocation: in a trailer (location)
Élise cooked dinner in the small but tidy kitchen of the rented trailer.
Their trailer has fold-down beds, a tiny bathroom, and a gas stove.
After retiring in Chicago, Yuna and her husband chose to live in a trailer and travel across the country.
文法句型
live in a trailer
trailer + park
用法筆記
In British English this is usually called a 'caravan.' In US English a permanently parked mobile home is called a 'manufactured home.'
常見錯誤
4. a short video composed of selected scenes from an upcoming film, TV show, or vid
a short video composed of selected scenes from an upcoming film, TV show, or video game, released before the full work to attract an audience and build excitement.
The trailer for the new fantasy film made everyone in the cinema excited.
collocation: trailer for [film]
Nia watched the trailer online three times before the movie came out.
The trailer for the mystery film showed just enough clues to keep viewers curious without revealing the killer's identity.
The two-minute trailer revealed the cast and the main setting of the film.
Fans of the fantasy series paused the trailer repeatedly to search for hidden clues about the new characters and settings.
文法句型
trailer for + noun phrase
trailer of + noun phrase
用法筆記
A 'teaser' is a very short trailer (often 30–60 seconds) that reveals almost nothing about the plot, while a full 'trailer' is longer (2–3 minutes) and shows key story moments.
常見錯誤
trailer — verb
1. to spend time living or taking trips inside a mobile home, either staying in one
to spend time living or taking trips inside a mobile home, either staying in one place or moving between locations.
The Okonkwo family trailered across the country for six months in their RV.
movement pattern: trailer across [region]
Next summer, Amira and her husband plan to trailer around the national parks of the southwestern United States.
The Nguyen family trailered along the coast, stopping at a different beach every week.
After selling their Portland house, Talia and Caleb now trailer full-time and explore a different state each month.
- caravan
used as a verb in British English, with the same meaning
文法句型
trailer + adverb phrase of place
2. describing how easily or safely a boat, vehicle, or similar object can be pulled
describing how easily or safely a boat, vehicle, or similar object can be pulled behind another vehicle on a trailer.
Because of its lightweight fibreglass hull, the small fishing boat trailers easily behind a regular family car.
adverb pattern: trailers easily
Because of its lightweight body, this camper van trailers behind a regular car without needing a special heavy licence.
pattern: trailers without [requirement]
During the racing season, the team's competition motorcycle trailers on a custom aluminium frame behind their support van.
With the right hitch, a pair of jet skis trailers well behind a mid-sized SUV for trips to the lake.
文法句型
noun + trailers + adverb
用法筆記
This sense is usually accompanied by an adverb such as 'easily,' 'well,' or 'safely' that describes how conveniently the object can be towed.
3. to move a large object such as a vehicle, boat, or piece of equipment by loading
to move a large object such as a vehicle, boat, or piece of equipment by loading it onto a trailer and pulling it with another vehicle.
Vikram trailered his boat to the lake for the weekend fishing trip.
pattern: trailer [object] to [place]
To begin the new road project, the construction company will trailer the bulldozer and excavator to the site next week.
future pattern: will trailer [object]
Feng trailered the broken car to the repair garage outside the town.
The rancher trailered his prize sheep to the county fair in a container with air holes and fresh straw.
文法句型
trailer + noun phrase + to + place
用法筆記
The object is typically a wheeled item (boat, car, motorcycle) or heavy equipment. Unlike 'tow,' which can mean pulling with a rope or chain, 'trailer' implies the item is carried on a trailer platform.