Definition

1. Noun:

   • A visible mark or sign left behind: A "trace" can be a mark, such as a footprint or track, left by the passage of a person, animal, or vehicle.
   • A very small amount: A "trace" can refer to a minute quantity or barely detectable indication of something.
   • A line connecting a horse's harness: In historical contexts, a "trace" is one of the straps or lines connecting a horse's harness to a vehicle.

2. Verb:

   • To follow the course or path of: To "trace" means to find or discover by investigating the evidence or marks left behind.
   • To copy by drawing over lines: To "trace" means to copy a design, drawing, or pattern by following its lines on a superimposed transparent sheet.
   • To outline or sketch: To "trace" can mean to draw or mark the outline of a figure or shape.
   • To find origins or development: To "trace" means to find out or describe the origin, cause, or development of something.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • The detective found a trace of mud on the floor. (The detective found a small mark of mud on the floor.)
  • There wasn't a trace of sadness in her voice. (There was not even a tiny amount of sadness in her voice.)

• Verb:

  • She tried to trace her family history back to the 18th century. (She tried to find out and follow her family history back to the 18th century.)
  • The child traced the picture of a cat from the book. (The child copied the picture of a cat by drawing over its lines.)
  • He traced a circle in the sand with a stick. (He drew the outline of a circle in the sand with a stick.)

Advanced Usage

• "to trace back to": to find the origin or cause of something by looking back in time.

  • Many customs trace back to ancient traditions. (Many customs have their origins in ancient traditions.)

• "to trace over": to copy something by drawing directly on top of it.

  • The artist traced over the pencil sketch with ink. (The artist copied the pencil sketch by drawing ink lines on top of it.)

• "to lose trace of": to no longer know where someone or something is or what happened to them.

  • We lost trace of him after he moved abroad. (We no longer knew his whereabouts after he moved abroad.)

Variants and Related Words

• Tracer (n): a person or thing that traces; also, a projectile whose course is made visible by a burning chemical.

  • The police used a tracer to follow the suspect's phone signal.

• Traceable (adj): able to be found or followed.

  • The source of the problem is traceable to a software bug.

Synonyms

• Noun: Vestige, hint, remnant, track.
• Verb: Follow, track, outline, delineate, ascertain.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Trace out: to draw or plan the outline or course of something.
  • The architect traced out the basic floor plan. (The architect drew the basic outline of the floor plan.)

Related Idioms

• Without a trace: completely disappearing, leaving no evidence.

  • The ship vanished without a trace. (The ship disappeared completely, leaving no evidence.)

• Kick over the traces: to rebel against authority or conventions.

  • After years of strict rules, he finally kicked over the traces and traveled the world. (After years of strict rules, he finally rebelled and traveled the world.)

Noun

1. a visible mark (as a footprint) left by the passage of person or animal or vehicle
2. either of two lines that connect a horse's harness to a wagon or other vehicle or to a whiffletree
3. a drawing created by superimposing a semitransparent sheet of paper on the original image and copying on it the lines of the original image
4. a suggestion of some quality
   • there was a touch of sarcasm in his tone
   • he detected a ghost of a smile on her face
5. an indication that something has been present
   • there wasn't a trace of evidence for the claim
   • a tincture of condescension
6. a just detectable amount
   • he speaks French with a trace of an accent

Verb

1. read with difficulty
   • Can you decipher this letter?
   • The archeologist traced the hieroglyphs
2. 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
3. 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
4. discover traces of
   • She traced the circumstances of her birth
5. pursue or chase relentlessly
   • The hunters traced the deer into the woods
   • the detectives hounded the suspect until they found him
6. to go back over again
   • we retraced the route we took last summer
   • trace your path
7. make a mark or lines on a surface
   • draw a line
   • trace the outline of a figure in the sand
8. follow, discover, or ascertain the course of development of something
   • We must follow closely the economic development is Cuba
   • trace the student's progress