Trailing means hanging down and dragging along. A trailing wire, trailing plants, trailing behind.
Of a plant it means growing downward over an edge rather than climbing, which is what hanging baskets want. Of a wire it is a trip hazard and the phrase is fixed in safety notices. Trailing also means being behind in a contest. Note trailing edge, the rear edge of a wing, which is the opposite of the leading edge.
1adjectivetrailingHanging down and dragging along.
“Tuck away that trailing cable before someone trips over it.”
2adjectivebehindBehind in a contest.
“The trailing team scored twice in the last ten minutes to win the match.”
trailing is a quality of dragging behind.
Practised in A Song of Ice and Fire