Etymology : Middle English, from Middle French, from tracier to trace
Pronunciation : trAs
Function : noun
Date : 14th century
1. sign, trail; appearance; harness. follow; find; investigate; follow a program procedure proposition after proposition (Computers). trace\trace\ , n. (mech.) a connecting bar or rod, pivoted at each end to the end of another piece, for transmitting motion, esp. from one plane to another; specif., such a piece in an organ-stop action to transmit motion from the trundle to the lever actuating the stop slider.trace \trace\ , n. [f. trais. pl. of trait. see:
trait.] one of two straps, chains, or ropes of a harness, extending from the collar or breastplate to a whiffletree attached to a vehicle or thing to be drawn; a tug.trace \trace\, n. [f. trace. see:
trace, v. t. ].
2. a mark left by anything passing; a track; a path; a course; a footprint; a vestige; as, the trace of a carriage or sled; the trace of a deer; a sinuous trace.
3. (chem. & min.) a very small quantity of an element or compound in a given substance, especially when so small that the amount is not quantitatively determined in an analysis; -- hence, in stating an analysis, often contracted to tr.
4. a mark, impression, or visible appearance of anything left when the thing itself no longer exists; remains; token; vestige. the shady empire shall retain no trace of war or blood, but in the sylvan chase.
5. (descriptive geom. & persp.) the intersection of a plane of projection, or an original plane, with a coordinate plane.
6. (fort.) the ground plan of a work or works.
7. One of two straps, chains, or ropes of a harness, extending from the collar or breastplate to a whiffletree attached to a vehicle or thing to be drawn; a tug.
8. A mark left by anything passing; a track; a path; a course; a footprint; a vestige; as, the trace of a carriage or sled; the trace of a deer; a sinuous trace.
9. A very small quantity of an element or compound in a given substance, especially when so small that the amount is not quantitatively determined in an analysis; hence, in stating an analysis, often contracted to tr.
10. A mark, impression, or visible appearance of anything left when the thing itself no longer exists; remains; token; vestige.
11. The intersection of a plane of projection, or an original plane, with a coordinate plane.
12. The ground plan of a work or works.
13. To mark out; to draw or delineate with marks; especially, to copy, as a drawing or engraving, by following the lines and marking them on a sheet superimposed, through which they appear; as, to trace a figure or an outline; a traced drawing.
14. To follow by some mark that has been left by a person or thing which has preceded; to follow by footsteps, tracks, or tokens.
15. Hence, to follow the trace or track of.
16. To copy; to imitate.
17. To walk over; to pass through; to traverse.
18. To walk; to go; to travel.
19. A connecting bar or rod, pivoted at each end to the end of another piece, for transmitting motion, esp. from one plane to another; specif., such a piece in an organ-stop action to transmit motion from the trundle to the lever actuating the stop slider. either of two lines that connect a horse's harness to a wagon or other vehicle or to a whiffletree an indication that something has been present; "there wasn't a trace of evidence for the claim"; "a tincture of condescension" a visible mark left by the passage of person or animal or vehicle a just detectable amount; "he speaks French with a trace of an accent" follow, discover, or ascertain the course of development of something; "We must follow closely the economic development is Cuba" ; "trace the student's progress" make a mark or lines on a surface; "draw a line"; "trace the outline of a figure in the sand" 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 drak forest"; "The women traced the pasture" to go back over again; "we retraced the route we took last summer"; "trace your path" discover traces of; "She traced the circumstances of her birth".
20. 1. If you trace the origin or development of something, you find out or describe how it started or developed. The exhibition traces the history of graphic design in America from the 19th century to the present The psychiatrist successfully traced some of her problems to severe childhood traumas. Trace back means the same as trace. Britain's Parliament can trace its history back to the English Parliament of the 13th century She has never traced back her lineage, but believes her grandparents were from Aberdeenshire.
21. If you trace someone or something, you find them after looking for them. Police are anxious to trace two men seen leaving the house just before 8am.
22. If you trace something such as a pattern or a shape, for example with your finger or toe, you mark its outline on a surface. I traced the course of the river on the map.
23. If you trace a picture, you copy it by covering it with a piece of transparent paper and drawing over the lines underneath. She learned to draw by tracing pictures out of old storybooks.
24. A trace of something is a very small amount of it. Wash them in cold water to remove all traces of sand.
25. A trace is a sign which shows you that someone or something has been in a place. There's been no trace of my aunt and uncle Finally, and mysteriously, Hoffa disappeared without trace.
26. If you say that someone or something sinks without trace or sinks without a trace, you mean that they stop existing or stop being successful very suddenly and completely. The Social Democratic Party has sunk without trace at these elections.