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.

  • noun One's followers, adherents, or dependents, collectively.
  • noun Vocation; business; profession.
  • 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.

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