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tail
n, often attrib 1 : the rear end or a process or prolongation of the rear end of the body of an animal 2 : one end of a molecule regarded as opposite to the head : esp : the end of a lipid molecule that consists of a nonpolar hydrocarbon chain and is opposite to the polar group <most surface-active agents have a long hydrophobic attached to a polar head -R. E. Kirk & D. F. Othmer> 3 : any of various parts of bodily structures that are terminal: as a : the distal tendon of a muscle b : the slender left end of the human pancreas c : the common convoluted tube that forms the lower part of the epididymis 4 : the part of a sperm consisting of the middle portion and the terminal flagellum 5 : a thin protein tube which forms part of the coat of some bacteriophages and through which DNA is injected into a cell tailed adj tail*less adj
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