derail means synonym of derailer: A device placed on railway tracks in order to cause a train to derail. Lexicurio rates it Distinctive — a strength score of 67 out of 100.
derail is pronounced /ˌdəˈɹeɪ.əl/.
Etymology
From French dérailler (“to go off the rails”). Analyzable as de- + rail.
noun
- 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.”
- 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 collision.”
- To come off the tracks.“Fortunately, the CrossCountry train did not derail when it struck the mud. It could easily have been much worse.”
- 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.“The protesting students derailed the professor's lecture.”
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