a surviving mark, sign, or evidence of the former existence, influence, or action of some agent or event; vestige: traces of an advanced civilization among the ruins.
2.
a barely discernible indication or evidence of some quantity, quality, characteristic, expression, etc.: a trace of anger in his tone.
3.
an extremely small amount of some chemical component: a trace of copper in its composition.
4.
traces, the series of footprints left by an animal.
5.
the track left by the passage of a person, animal, or object: the trace of her skates on the ice.
6.
Meteorology. 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.
a lightly drawn line, as the record drawn by a self-registering instrument.
11.
Mathematics.
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.
c.
the geometric locus of an equation.
12.
the visible line or lines produced on the screen of a cathode-ray tube by the deflection of the electron beam.
13.
Linguistics. (in generative grammar) a construct that is phonologically empty but serves to mark the place in the surface structure of a sentence from which a noun phrase has been moved by a transformational operation.
14.
Obsolete. a footprint.
–verb (used with object)
15.
to follow the footprints, track, or traces of.
16.
to follow, make out, or determine the course or line of, esp. by going backward from the latest evidence, nearest existence, etc.: to trace one's ancestry to the Pilgrims.
17.
to follow (footprints, evidence, the history or course of something, etc.).
18.
to follow the course, development, or history of: to trace a political movement.
19.
to ascertain by investigation; find out; discover: The police were unable to trace his whereabouts.
20.
to draw (a line, outline, figure, etc.).
21.
to make a plan, diagram, or map of.
22.
to copy (a drawing, plan, etc.) by following the lines of the original on a superimposed transparent sheet.
23.
to mark or ornament with lines, figures, etc.
24.
to make an impression or imprinting of (a design, pattern, etc.).
25.
(of a self-registering instrument) to print in a curved, broken, or wavy-lined manner.
26.
to put down in writing.
–verb (used without object)
27.
to go back in history, ancestry, or origin; date back in time: Her family traces back to Paul Revere.
28.
to follow a course, trail, etc.; make one's way.
29.
(of a self-registering instrument) to print a record in a curved, broken, or wavy-lined manner.
[Origin: 1250–1300; late ME tracen, ME: to make one's way, proceed < MF tracier < VL *tractiāre, deriv. of L tractus, ptp. of trahere to draw, drag; (n.) ME: orig., way, course, line of footprints < OF, deriv. of tracier]
—Synonyms 1. Trace, vestige agree in denoting marks or signs of something, usually of the past. Trace, the broader term, denotes any mark or slight indication of something past or present: a trace of ammonia in water. Vestige is more limited and refers to some slight, though actual, remains of something that no longer exists: vestiges of one's former wealth. 2. hint, suggestion, taste, touch. 5. spoor, trail, record. 15. trail.
A visible mark, such as a footprint, made or left by the passage of a person, animal, or thing.
Evidence or an indication of the former presence or existence of something; a vestige.
An extremely small amount.
A constituent, such as a chemical compound or element, present in quantities less than a standard limit.
The point at which a line, or the curve in which a surface, intersects a coordinate plane.
The sum of the elements of the principal diagonal of a matrix.
A barely perceivable indication; a touch: spoke with a trace of sarcasm.
An extremely small amount.
A constituent, such as a chemical compound or element, present in quantities less than a standard limit.
The point at which a line, or the curve in which a surface, intersects a coordinate plane.
The sum of the elements of the principal diagonal of a matrix.
A path or trail that has been beaten out by the passage of animals or people.
A way or route followed.
A line drawn by a recording instrument, such as a cardiograph.
Mathematics
The point at which a line, or the curve in which a surface, intersects a coordinate plane.
The sum of the elements of the principal diagonal of a matrix.
An engram.
v.
traced, trac·ing, trac·es
v.
tr.
To follow the course or trail of: trace a wounded deer; tracing missing persons.
To ascertain the successive stages in the development or progress of: tracing the life cycle of an insect; trace the history of a family.
To locate or discover by searching or researching evidence: trace the cause of a disease.
To draw (a line or figure); sketch; delineate.
To form (letters) with special concentration or care.
To copy by following lines seen through a sheet of transparent paper.
To follow closely (a prescribed pattern): The skater traced a figure eight.
To imprint (a design) by pressure with an instrument on a superimposed pattern.
To make a design or series of markings on (a surface) by such pressure on a pattern.
To imprint (a design) by pressure with an instrument on a superimposed pattern.
To make a design or series of markings on (a surface) by such pressure on a pattern.
To record (a variable), as on a graph.
v.
intr.
To make one's way along a trail or course: traced through the files.
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 make one's way, from Vulgar Latin *tractiāre, from Latin tractus, a dragging, course, from past participle of trahere, to draw.]
One of two side straps or chains connecting a harnessed draft animal to a vehicle or whiffletree.
A bar or rod, hinged at either end to another part, that transfers movement from one part of a machine to another.
[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.]
1374, "to make a plan or diagram," from O.Fr. trasser "delineate, score, trace, follow, pursue" (12c.), from V.L. *tractiare "delineate, score, trace" (cf. Sp. trazar "to trace, devise, plan out," It. tracciare "to follow by foot"), from L. tractus "track, course," lit. "a drawing out," from pp. stem of trahere "to pull, draw" (see tract (1)). Meaning "to pass over" (a path, etc.) is attested from c.1381. Sense of "draw an outline of" is first recorded 1390. Meaning "copy a drawing on a transparent sheet laid over it" is recorded from 1762.
"track made by passage of a person or thing," c.1300, from O.Fr. trace, back-formation from tracier (see trace (v.)). Scientific sense of "indication of minute presence in some chemical compound" is from 1827. The verb in the sense of "follow by means of traces or tracks" is recorded from c.1450. Traces "vestiges" is from c.1400. Tracer "bullet whose course is made visible" is attested from 1910.
"straps or chains by which an animal pulls a vehicle," c.1300, from earlier collective plural trays, from O.Fr. traiz, pl. of trait "strap for harnessing, act of drawing," from L. tractus "a drawing, track," from stem of trahere "to pull, draw" (see tract (1)).
a just detectable amount; "he speaks French with a trace of an accent"
2.
an indication that something has been present; "there wasn't a trace of evidence for the claim"; "a tincture of condescension"
3.
a suggestion of some quality; "there was a touch of sarcasm in his tone"; "he detected a ghost of a smile on her face" [syn: touch]
4.
a drawing created by superimposing a semitransparent sheet of paper on the original image and copying on it the lines of the original image [syn: tracing]
5.
either of two lines that connect a horse's harness to a wagon or other vehicle or to a whiffletree
6.
a visible mark (as a footprint) left by the passage of person or animal or vehicle
verb
1.
follow, discover, or ascertain the course of development of something; "We must follow closely the economic development is Cuba" ; "trace the student's progress"
2.
make a mark or lines on a surface; "draw a line"; "trace the outline of a figure in the sand"
3.
to go back over again; "we retraced the route we took last summer"; "trace your path"
4.
pursue or chase relentlessly; "The hunters traced the deer into the woods"; "the detectives hounded the suspect until they found him" [syn: hound]
5.
discover traces of; "She traced the circumstances of her birth"
6.
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"
7.
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"
8.
read with difficulty; "Can you decipher this letter?"; "The archeologist traced the hieroglyphs" [syn: decipher]
a mark or sign left by something Example: There were traces of egg on the plate; There's still no trace of the missing child.
Arabic:
أَثَر، عَلامَه
Chinese (Simplified):
踪迹
Chinese (Traditional):
蹤蹟
Czech:
stopa
Danish:
spor
Dutch:
spoor
Estonian:
jälg, märk
Finnish:
jälki
French:
trace
German:
die Spur
Greek:
ίχνος, σημάδι
Hungarian:
nyom
Icelandic:
(um)merki, slóð, spor
Indonesian:
bekas, jejak
Italian:
traccia
Japanese:
跡
Korean:
흔적
Latvian:
pēdas; paliekas
Lithuanian:
pėdsakas, ženklas
Norwegian:
spor, merke
Polish:
ślad
Portuguese (Brazil):
vestígio
Portuguese (Portugal):
sinal
Romanian:
urmă
Russian:
след
Slovak:
stopa
Slovenian:
sled
Spanish:
rastro, huella, vestigio, indicio
Swedish:
spår
Turkish:
iz
trace2[treis]noun
a small amount Example: Traces of poison were found in the cup.
Arabic:
مِقْدار ضَئيل
Chinese (Simplified):
微量
Chinese (Traditional):
微量
Czech:
stopa
Danish:
spor
Dutch:
sporen
Estonian:
-jälg, tiba
Finnish:
hitunen
French:
trace
German:
die Spur
Greek:
ίχνος, μικρή ποσότητα
Hungarian:
nyom (elenyésző mennyiség)
Icelandic:
snefill, vottur
Indonesian:
sedikit
Italian:
traccia
Japanese:
少量
Korean:
소량
Latvian:
paliekas; neliels daudzums
Lithuanian:
pėdsakas
Norwegian:
spor, antydning
Polish:
ślad
Portuguese (Brazil):
traço
Portuguese (Portugal):
vestígio
Romanian:
urmă
Russian:
следы
Slovak:
stopa
Slovenian:
sled
Spanish:
pizca
Swedish:
spår
Turkish:
eser miktar
trace1[treis]verb
to follow or discover by means of clues, evidence etc Example: The police have traced him to London; The source of the infection has not yet been traced.
Arabic:
يَتَتَبَّع آثار
Chinese (Simplified):
跟踪，探查
Chinese (Traditional):
跟蹤，探查
Czech:
(vy)stopovat
Danish:
spore
Dutch:
nagaan
Estonian:
jälitama
Finnish:
jäljittää
French:
retrouver
German:
aufspüren
Greek:
ακολουθώ τα ίχνη, ανακαλύπτω, εντοπίζω
Hungarian:
kinyomoz
Icelandic:
rekja slóð
Indonesian:
melacak
Italian:
inseguire; rintracciare
Japanese:
たどる
Korean:
추적하다, 찾아내다
Latvian:
izsekot; sadzīt pēdas
Lithuanian:
(su)sekti, rasti
Norwegian:
følge et spor, lokalisere
Polish:
odnaleźć
Portuguese (Brazil):
rastrear
Portuguese (Portugal):
alcançar
Romanian:
a găsi, *a lua urma
Russian:
выслеживать; обнаруживать
Slovak:
(vy)stopovať
Slovenian:
(iz)slediti
Spanish:
seguir la pista; localizar, averiguar el paradero
Swedish:
spåra
Turkish:
izlemek
trace2[treis]verb
to make a copy of (a picture etc) by putting transparent paper over it and drawing the outline etc Example: I traced the map.
Ab"stract`\ (#; 277), a. [L. abstractus, p. p. of abstrahere to draw from, separate; ab, abs + trahere to draw. See Trace.]1. Withdraw; separate. [Obs.] The more abstract . . . we are from the body. --Norris. 2. Considered apart from any application to a particular object; separated from matter; existing in the mind only; as, abstract truth, abstract numbers. Hence: ideal; abstruse; difficult. 3. (Logic) (a) Expressing a particular property of an object viewed apart from the other properties which constitute it; -- opposed to concrete; as, honesty is an abstract word. --J. S. Mill. (b) Resulting from the mental faculty of abstraction; general as opposed to particular; as, "reptile" is an abstract or general name. --Locke. A concrete name is a name which stands for a thing; an abstract name which stands for an attribute of a thing. A practice has grown up in more modern times, which, if not introduced by Locke, has gained currency from his example, of applying the expression "abstract name" to all names which are the result of abstraction and generalization, and consequently to all general names, instead of confining it to the names of attributes. --J. S. Mill. 4. Abstracted; absent in mind. "Abstract, as in a trance." --Milton. An abstract idea (Metaph.), an idea separated from a complex object, or from other ideas which naturally accompany it; as the solidity of marble when contemplated apart from its color or figure. Abstract terms, those which express abstract ideas, as beauty, whiteness, roundness, without regarding any object in which they exist; or abstract terms are the names of orders, genera or species of things, in which there is a combination of similar qualities. Abstract numbers (Math.), numbers used without application to things, as 6, 8, 10; but when applied to any thing, as 6 feet, 10 men, they become concrete. Abstract or Pure mathematics. See Mathematics.
At*tract"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Attracted; p. pr. & vb. n. Attracting.] [L. attractus, p. p. of attrahere; ad + trahere to draw. See Trace, v. t.]1. To draw to, or cause to tend to; esp. to cause to approach, adhere, or combine; or to cause to resist divulsion, separation, or decomposition. All bodies and all parts of bodies mutually attract themselves and one another. --Derham. 2. To draw by influence of a moral or emotional kind; to engage or fix, as the mind, attention, etc.; to invite or allure; as, to attract admirers. Attracted by thy beauty still to gaze. --Milton. Syn: To draw; allure; invite; entice; influence.
Con*tract"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Contracted; p. pr. & vb. n. Contracting.] [L. contractus, p. p. of contrahere to contract; con- + trahere to draw: cf. F. contracter. See Trace, and cf. Contract, n.]1. To draw together or nearer; to reduce to a less compass; to shorten, narrow, or lessen; as, to contract one's sphere of action. In all things desuetude doth contract and narrow our faculties. --Dr. H. More. 2. To draw together so as to wrinkle; to knit. Thou didst contract and purse thy brow. --Shak. 3. To bring on; to incur; to acquire; as, to contract a habit; to contract a debt; to contract a disease. Each from each contract new strength and light. --Pope. Such behavior we contract by having much conversed with persons of high station. --Swift. 4. To enter into, with mutual obligations; to make a bargain or covenant for. We have contracted an inviolable amity, peace, and lague with the aforesaid queen. --Hakluyt. Many persons . . . had contracted marriage within the degrees of consanguinity . . . prohibited by law. --Strype. 5. To betroth; to affiance. The truth is, she and I, long since contracted, Are now so sure, that nothing can dissolve us. --Shak. 6. (Gram.) To shorten by omitting a letter or letters or by reducing two or more vowels or syllables to one. Syn: To shorten; abridge; epitomize; narrow; lessen; condense; reduce; confine; incur; assume.
De*tract"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Detracted; p. pr. & vb. n. Detracting.] [L. detractus, p. p. of detrahere to detract; de + trahere to draw: cf. F. d['e]tracter. See Trace.]1. To take away; to withdraw. Detract much from the view of the without. --Sir H. Wotton. 2. To take credit or reputation from; to defame. That calumnious critic . . . Detracting what laboriously we do. --Drayton. Syn: To derogate; decry; disparage; depreciate; asperse; vilify; defame; traduce. See Decry.
Dis*tract"\, a. [L. distractus, p. p. of distrahere to draw asunder; dis- + trahere to draw. See Trace, and cf. Distraught.]1. Separated; drawn asunder. [Obs.] 2. Insane; mad. [Obs.] --Drayton.
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