n(1)栏(横)杆，扶手(horizontal bar supported at both ends)[C]：stairs/fence～s 楼梯扶手/栅栏横杆;a curtain/towel～挂窗帘/毛巾的横杆;the side～s of a ladder 梯子两边的扶手;lean on the ship's～倚在船栏杆上;

(2)铁轨(道)(long bar of steel which forms the track on which trains run)[C，尤pl]：When the train went off the～s，some people were injured. 火车出轨时，有些人受伤了。〖同〗 railway，railroad;

(3)铁路运输(method of travelling and transporting things in train)[U]：take～from ... to ... 乘火车从某地去某地;send sth by～由铁路运送某物;travel by～乘火车旅行;～travel/freight铁路旅行/货运;〖同〗 railway，railroad;

go off the rails 1)陷入混乱(BrE，infml)：Our routine work went completely off the～s for several days when he suddenly fell ill. 他突然生病，我们的日常工作有几天陷入了混乱。2)不规矩，出格：He is a reliable man and has never gone off the～s. 他是个可靠的人，从来都是循规蹈矩。

→′railroad n 铁路;′railway n 铁路;′railhead n 铁路的终(起)点;建造中的铁路已到达的最远点;′railing n 扶手，栏杆;

vt 用栏杆隔开(fence with rails)[T+n+adv(in/off)]：～that area in 把那个地方围起来;a～ed-in garden围起来的花园;the pond that is～ed off用栅栏围住的池塘;We'll～that ground off to stop people walking on it. 我们要把那块地围起来，避免人们踩踏。