trace

trace¹

(trās)

a. A visible mark, such as a footprint, made or left by the passage of a person, animal, or thing.

b. Evidence or an indication of the former presence or existence of something; a vestige: left without a trace of having been there.

a. An extremely small amount or barely perceivable indication: spoke with a trace of sarcasm.

b. A constituent, such as a chemical compound or element, present in quantities less than a standard limit.

3. A path or trail that has been beaten out by the passage of animals or people.

4. An act of researching or ascertaining the origin or location of something: put a trace on the phone call; asked for a trace on a lost package.

5. A line drawn by a recording instrument, such as a cardiograph.

6. Mathematics

a. The point at which a line, or the curve in which a surface, intersects a coordinate plane.

b. The sum of the elements of the principal diagonal of a matrix.

7. An engram.

v. traced, trac·ing, trac·es

v.tr.

a. To go along or follow (a path, for example): We traced the trail up the mountain.

b. To follow the course or trail of: trace a wounded deer.

a. To ascertain the successive stages in the development or progress of: tracing the life cycle of an insect; trace the history of a family.

b. To discover or determine by searching or researching evidence: trace the cause of a disease.

c. To locate or ascertain the origin of: traced the money to a foreign bank account.

a. To draw (a line or figure); sketch; delineate.

b. To form (letters) with special concentration or care.

a. To copy by following lines seen through a sheet of transparent paper.

b. To follow closely (a prescribed pattern): The skater traced a figure eight.

a. To imprint (a design) by pressure with an instrument on a superimposed pattern.

b. To make a design or series of markings on (a surface) by such pressure on a pattern.

6. To record (a variable), as on a graph.

v.intr.

1. To make one's way along a trail or course: We traced along the ridge.

2. To have origins; be traceable: linguistic features that trace to West Africa.

adj.

Occurring in extremely small amounts or in quantities less than a standard limit.

[Middle English, track, from Old French, from tracier, to trace, from Vulgar Latin *tractiāre, from Latin tractus, a dragging, course, from past participle of trahere, to draw.]

trace′a·bil′i·ty n.

trace′a·ble adj.

trace′a·bly adv.

trace²

(trās)

1. One of two side straps or chains connecting a harnessed draft animal to a vehicle or whiffletree.

2. A bar or rod, hinged at either end to another part, that transfers movement from one part of a machine to another.

Idiom:

kick over the traces

To act in a way that contravenes social expectations or propriety: "As soon as the opportunity presented itself, [he] kicked over the traces and threw himself into a life of pleasure" (K.D. Reynolds).

[Middle English trais, from Old French, pl. of trait, a hauling, harness strap, from Latin tractus, a hauling, from past participle of trahere, to haul.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

trace

(treɪs)

1. a mark or other sign that something has been in a place; vestige

2. a tiny or scarcely detectable amount or characteristic

3. a footprint or other indication of the passage of an animal or person

4. (Mechanical Engineering) any line drawn by a recording instrument or a record consisting of a number of such lines

5. something drawn, such as a tracing

6. chiefly US a beaten track or path

7. (Psychology) the postulated alteration in the cells of the nervous system that occurs as the result of any experience or learning. See also memory trace, engram

8. (Mathematics) geometry the intersection of a surface with a coordinate plane

9. (Mathematics) maths the sum of the diagonal entries of a square matrix

10. (Linguistics) linguistics a symbol inserted in the constituent structure of a sentence to mark the position from which a constituent has been moved in a generative process

11. (Physical Geography) meteorol an amount of precipitation that is too small to be measured

12. archaic a way taken; route

13. (tr) to follow, discover, or ascertain the course or development of (something): to trace the history of China.

14. (tr) to track down and find, as by following a trail

15. to copy (a design, map, etc) by drawing over the lines visible through a superimposed sheet of transparent paper or other material

16.

a. to draw or delineate a plan or diagram of: she spent hours tracing the models one at a time.

b. to outline or sketch (an idea, policy, etc): he traced out his scheme for the robbery.

17. (Art Terms) (tr) to decorate with tracery

18. (Textiles) (tr) to imprint (a design) on cloth, etc

19. (usually foll by back) to follow or be followed to source; date back: his ancestors trace back to the 16th century.

20. archaic to make one's way over, through, or along (something)

[C13: from French tracier, from Vulgar Latin tractiāre (unattested) to drag, from Latin tractus, from trahere to drag]

ˈtraceable adj

ˌtraceaˈbility, ˈtraceableness n

ˈtraceably adv

ˈtraceless adj

ˈtracelessly adv

trace

(treɪs)

1. (Horse Training, Riding & Manège) either of the two side straps that connect a horse's harness to the swingletree

2. (Angling) angling a length of nylon or, formerly, gut attaching a hook or fly to a line

3. kick over the traces to escape or defy control

[C14 trais, from Old French trait, ultimately from Latin trahere to drag]

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

trace¹

(treɪs)

n., v. traced, trac•ing, n.

1. a surviving mark, sign, or evidence of the former existence, influence, or action of some agent or event; vestige.

2. a barely discernible indication or evidence of some quantity, quality, characteristic, expression, etc.

3. an extremely small amount of some chemical component: a trace of copper in the ore.

4. traces, the series of footprints left by an animal.

5. the track left by the passage of a person, animal, or object.

6. precipitation of less than 0.005 in. (0.127 mm).

7. a trail or path, esp. through wild or open territory, made by the passage of people, animals, or vehicles.

8. a tracing, drawing, or sketch of something.

9. a lightly drawn line, as the record drawn by a self-registering instrument.

10. Math.

a. the intersection of two planes, or of a plane and a surface.

b. the sum of the elements along the principal diagonal of a square matrix.

v.t.

11. to follow the footprints, track, or traces of.

12. to follow (footprints, evidence, the history or course of something, etc.).

13. to follow the course, development, or history of: to trace a political movement.

14. to ascertain by investigation; discover.

15. to draw (a line, outline, figure, etc.).

16. to make a plan, diagram, or map of.

17. to copy (a drawing, plan, etc.) by following the lines of the original on a superimposed transparent sheet.

18. to make an impression or imprinting of (a design, pattern, etc.).

v.i.

19. to go back in history, ancestry, or origin.

20. to follow a course, trail, etc.

[1250–1300; Middle English: to make one's way, proceed < Middle French tracier < Vulgar Latin *tractiāre, derivative of Latin tractus, past participle of trahere to draw, drag]

trace′a•ble, adj.

trace²

(treɪs)

either of the two straps, ropes, or chains by which a carriage, wagon, or the like is drawn by a harnessed horse or other draft animal.

Idioms:

kick over the traces, to throw off restraint; become independent or defiant.

[1300–50; Middle English trais < Middle French, pl. of trait strap for harness < Latin tractus dragging]

Trace

of hares: hares collectively; a line or train of people, 1385.

trace

Past participle: traced
Gerund: tracing

Imperative
trace
trace

Present
I trace
you trace
he/she/it traces
we trace
you trace
they trace

Preterite
I traced
you traced
he/she/it traced
we traced
you traced
they traced

Present Continuous
I am tracing
you are tracing
he/she/it is tracing
we are tracing
you are tracing
they are tracing

Present Perfect
I have traced
you have traced
he/she/it has traced
we have traced
you have traced
they have traced

Past Continuous
I was tracing
you were tracing
he/she/it was tracing
we were tracing
you were tracing
they were tracing

Past Perfect
I had traced
you had traced
he/she/it had traced
we had traced
you had traced
they had traced

Future
I will trace
you will trace
he/she/it will trace
we will trace
you will trace
they will trace

Future Perfect
I will have traced
you will have traced
he/she/it will have traced
we will have traced
you will have traced
they will have traced

Future Continuous
I will be tracing
you will be tracing
he/she/it will be tracing
we will be tracing
you will be tracing
they will be tracing

Present Perfect Continuous
I have been tracing
you have been tracing
he/she/it has been tracing
we have been tracing
you have been tracing
they have been tracing

Future Perfect Continuous
I will have been tracing
you will have been tracing
he/she/it will have been tracing
we will have been tracing
you will have been tracing
they will have been tracing

Past Perfect Continuous
I had been tracing
you had been tracing
he/she/it had been tracing
we had been tracing
you had been tracing
they had been tracing

Conditional
I would trace
you would trace
he/she/it would trace
we would trace
you would trace
they would trace

Past Conditional
I would have traced
you would have traced
he/she/it would have traced
we would have traced
you would have traced
they would have traced

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Noun	1.	trace - a just detectable amount; "he speaks French with a trace of an accent" suggestion, hint small indefinite amount, small indefinite quantity - an indefinite quantity that is below average size or magnitude spark - a small but noticeable trace of some quality that might become stronger; "a spark of interest"; "a spark of decency"
	2.	trace - an indication that something has been present; "there wasn't a trace of evidence for the claim"; "a tincture of condescension" vestige, tincture, shadow footprint - a trace suggesting that something was once present or felt or otherwise important; "the footprints of an earlier civilization" indicant, indication - something that serves to indicate or suggest; "an indication of foul play"; "indications of strain"; "symptoms are the prime indicants of disease"
	3.	trace - a suggestion of some quality; "there was a touch of sarcasm in his tone"; "he detected a ghost of a smile on her face" touch, ghost proffer, proposition, suggestion - a proposal offered for acceptance or rejection; "it was a suggestion we couldn't refuse"
	4.	trace - a drawing created by superimposing a semitransparent sheet of paper on the original image and copying on it the lines of the original image tracing drawing - a representation of forms or objects on a surface by means of lines; "drawings of abstract forms"; "he did complicated pen-and-ink drawings like medieval miniatures"
	5.	trace - either of two lines that connect a horse's harness to a wagon or other vehicle or to a whiffletree harness - stable gear consisting of an arrangement of leather straps fitted to a draft animal so that it can be attached to and pull a cart line - something (as a cord or rope) that is long and thin and flexible; "a washing line"
	6.	trace - a visible mark (as a footprint) left by the passage of person or animal or vehicle print, mark - a visible indication made on a surface; "some previous reader had covered the pages with dozens of marks"; "paw prints were everywhere"
Verb	1.	trace - follow, discover, or ascertain the course of development of something; "We must follow closely the economic development is Cuba" ; "trace the student's progress" follow keep abreast, keep up, follow - keep informed; "He kept up on his country's foreign policies" analyse, analyze, examine, study, canvass, canvas - consider in detail and subject to an analysis in order to discover essential features or meaning; "analyze a sonnet by Shakespeare"; "analyze the evidence in a criminal trial"; "analyze your real motives" keep an eye on, watch over, watch, observe, follow - follow with the eyes or the mind; "Keep an eye on the baby, please!"; "The world is watching Sarajevo"; "She followed the men with the binoculars"
	2.	trace - make a mark or lines on a surface; "draw a line"; "trace the outline of a figure in the sand" describe, draw, line, delineate mark - make or leave a mark on; "the scouts marked the trail"; "ash marked the believers' foreheads" construct - draw with suitable instruments and under specified conditions; "construct an equilateral triangle" inscribe - draw within a figure so as to touch in as many places as possible circumscribe - draw a line around; "He drew a circle around the points" circumscribe - to draw a geometric figure around another figure so that the two are in contact but do not intersect draw - engage in drawing; "He spent the day drawing in the garden" draw - represent by making a drawing of, as with a pencil, chalk, etc. on a surface; "She drew an elephant"; "Draw me a horse" write - mark or trace on a surface; "The artist wrote Chinese characters on a big piece of white paper"; "Russian is written with the Cyrillic alphabet"
	3.	trace - to go back over again; "we retraced the route we took last summer"; "trace your path" retrace return - go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before; "return to your native land"; "the professor returned to his teaching position after serving as Dean"
	4.	trace - pursue or chase relentlessly; "The hunters traced the deer into the woods"; "the detectives hounded the suspect until they found him" hound, hunt dog, give chase, go after, chase, tail, chase after, trail, track, tag - go after with the intent to catch; "The policeman chased the mugger down the alley"; "the dog chased the rabbit" ferret - hound or harry relentlessly
	5.	trace - discover traces of; "She traced the circumstances of her birth" detect, discover, notice, observe, find - discover or determine the existence, presence, or fact of; "She detected high levels of lead in her drinking water"; "We found traces of lead in the paint"
	6.	trace - make one's course or travel along a path; travel or pass over, around, or along; "The children traced along the edge of the dark forest"; "The women traced the pasture" go forward, proceed, continue - move ahead; travel onward in time or space; "We proceeded towards Washington"; "She continued in the direction of the hills"; "We are moving ahead in time now"
	7.	trace - copy by following the lines of the original drawing on a transparent sheet placed upon it; make a tracing of; "trace a design"; "trace a pattern" re-create, copy - make a replica of; "copy that drawing"; "re-create a picture by Rembrandt"
	8.	trace - read with difficulty; "Can you decipher this letter?"; "The archeologist traced the hieroglyphs" decipher read - interpret something that is written or printed; "read the advertisement"; "Have you read Salman Rushdie?"