trace
/treis/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
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.
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
- a visible mark (as a footprint) left by the passage of person or animal or vehicle
- either of two lines that connect a horse's harness to a wagon or other vehicle or to a whiffletree
- a drawing created by superimposing a semitransparent sheet of paper on the original image and copying on it the lines of the original image
- a suggestion of some quality
- there was a touch of sarcasm in his tone
- he detected a ghost of a smile on her face
- an indication that something has been present
- there wasn't a trace of evidence for the claim
- a tincture of condescension
- a just detectable amount
- he speaks French with a trace of an accent
Verb
- read with difficulty
- Can you decipher this letter?
- The archeologist traced the hieroglyphs
- 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
- 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
- discover traces of
- She traced the circumstances of her birth
- pursue or chase relentlessly
- The hunters traced the deer into the woods
- the detectives hounded the suspect until they found him
- to go back over again
- we retraced the route we took last summer
- trace your path
- make a mark or lines on a surface
- draw a line
- trace the outline of a figure in the sand
- follow, discover, or ascertain the course of development of something
- We must follow closely the economic development is Cuba
- trace the student's progress