Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adjective Coming next in time or order.
  • adjective Now to be enumerated.
  • adjective Blowing in the same direction as the course of a ship or aircraft. Used of wind.
  • noun A group or gathering of admirers, adherents, or disciples.
  • noun The item or items to be mentioned next.
  • preposition Subsequent to; after.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Immediately succeeding; coming next in order; ensuing: as, during the following week.
  • That is now to follow; now to be related, set forth, described, or explained: as, the following story I can vouch for; in the following order.
  • In naval architecture, said of the edge or end of a surface or blade, as a propeller blade, which is in the rear when moving through water: opposed to leading.
  • noun A body of followers, retainers, attendants, or supporters; the adherents, disciples, or imitators of a particular leader or system, considered collectively; the persons composing a sect or party that follows the lead of a chief, or is devoted to the same cause, body of principles, or system of teaching or action.
  • noun What one follows as an occupation or trade; vocation; calling; occupation.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adjective Next after; succeeding; ensuing.
  • adjective (Astron.) (In the field of a telescope) In the direction from which stars are apparently moving (in consequence of the earth's rotation). In the direction toward which stars appear to move is called preceding.
  • noun One's followers, adherents, or dependents, collectively.
  • noun Vocation; business; profession.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective Coming next, either in sequence or in time
  • adjective About to be specified
  • adjective of a wind Blowing in the direction of travel
  • preposition After, subsequent to.
  • noun A group of followers, attendants or admirers; an entourage.
  • noun Something to be mentioned immediately later. Used with the definite article the.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a group of followers or enthusiasts
  • adjective immediately following in time or order
  • adjective in the desired direction
  • adjective going or proceeding or coming after in the same direction
  • adjective about to be mentioned or specified
  • noun the act of pursuing in an effort to overtake or capture

Etymologies

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  • In the context of computer programming, consider using trailing instead.

    February 16, 2015