tracer definition | Dictionary.com

trac⋅er

[trey-ser]

–noun

1.	a person or thing that traces.

2.	a person whose business or work is the tracing of missing property, parcels, persons, etc.

3.	an inquiry sent from point to point to trace a missing shipment, parcel, or the like, as in a transportation system.

4.	any of various devices for tracing drawings, plans, etc.

5.	Also called tracer ammunition. ammunition containing a chemical substance that causes a projectile to trail smoke or fire so as to make its path visible and indicate a target to other firers, esp. at night.

6.	the chemical substance contained in such ammunition.

7.	a substance, esp. a radioactive one, traced through a biological, chemical, or physical system in order to study the system.

Origin:
1535–45; trace ¹ + -er ¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

trac·er (trā'sər) Pronunciation Key
n.

1. One who is employed to locate missing goods or persons.
2. An investigation or inquiry organized to trace missing goods or persons.
Any of several instruments used in making tracings or in imprinting designs by tracing.
A tracer bullet.
An identifiable substance, such as a dye or a radioactive isotope, that is introduced into a biological or mechanical system and can be followed through the course of a process, providing information on the pattern of events in the process or on the redistribution of the parts or elements involved. Also called label.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

tracer
noun
1.	an investigator who is employed to find missing persons or missing goods
2.	an instrument used to make tracings
3.	(radiology) any radioactive isotope introduced into the body to study metabolism or other biological processes
4.	ammunition whose flight can be observed by a trail of smoke

WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
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The American Heritage Science Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

tracer (trā'sər) Pronunciation Key

An identifiable substance, such as a dye or radioactive isotope, that can be followed through the course of a mechanical, chemical, or biological process. Tracers are used in radioimmunoassays and other laboratory testing. The use of radioactive iodine, for example, can give information about thyroid gland metabolism. Also called label.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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American Heritage Stedman's Medical Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

tracer trac·er (trā'sər)
n.

A substance, such as a dye or a radioactive isotope, that is introduced into and followed through a biological or chemical process, by virtue of its radioactive signature, color, or other distinguishing physical property, thus providing information on the course of the process or on the components or events involved.
An instrument used in dissecting out nerves and blood vessels.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
Main Entry: trac·er
Pronunciation: 'trA-s&r
Function: noun
: a substance used to trace the course of a process; specifically : alabeled element or atom that can be traced throughout chemical or biological processes by its radioactivity or its unusual isotopic mass

Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Tracer

Trac"er\, n. 1. A person engaged (esp. in the express or railway service) in tracing, or searching out, missing articles, as packages or freight cars.

2. An inquiry sent out (esp. in transportation service) for a missing article, as a letter or an express package.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Tracer

Tra"cer\, n. One who, or that which, traces.