trace
//tɹeɪs//
Forms
- Plural
- traces
- Comparative
- more trace
- Superlative
- most trace
- present (v1)
- trace
- past (v2)
- traced
- past participle (v3)
- traced
- present participle
- tracing
- 3rd person singular
- traces
Definitions
1.An act of tracing.
- Your cell phone company can put a trace on your line.
2.An enquiry sent out for a missing article, such as a letter or an express package.
- He disappeared without a trace.
3.A mark left as a sign of passage of a person or animal.
- He disappeared without a trace.
4.A very small amount, often residual, of some substance or material.
- There are traces of chocolate around your lips.
- All of our chocolates may contain traces of nuts.
1.Extremely small or insignificant (of an amount or quantity).
1.To follow the trail of.
2.To follow the history of.
- They traced the ancient lineages of two species to reveal the insects' lengthy history of asexual reproduction.
3.To draw or sketch lightly or with care.
- He carefully traced the outlines of the old building before him.
Frequency
Overall
Uncommon· #3463
By learning goal
- Everyday conversation
- Rare
- General reading & writing
- Uncommon
- Academic
- Rare
- Literature
- Rare
Related words
Synonyms
Etymology
From Middle English trace, traas
From Old French trace (“an outline, track, trace”)
From the verb (see below).