TRACE


Meaning of TRACE in English

I. verb

COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES

a flash/trace/touch of humour (= a very small amount of humour )

She replied with a rare flash of humour.

a hint/trace of amusement (= a small amount in someone's eyes or voice )

Was there a hint of amusement in her voice?

a hint/trace of an accent

I could detect the hint of a German accent in her voice.

a hint/trace/flicker of emotion (= a very small sign that someone feels an emotion )

I thought I saw a flicker of emotion in his eyes.

a trace of poison (= a small amount of poison that is still present somewhere )

Traces of the poison were found in the family car.

disappear without a trace ( also disappear without trace British English ) (= completely )

Hundreds of people disappear without trace every year.

hint/trace/edge/touch of sarcasm

There was just a touch of sarcasm in her voice.

trace an outline (= draw the outline of something, usually with your finger or toe )

She traced the outline of his lips with her fingers.

trace element

trace its origins to sth (= used to say that something can find evidence that it began to exist at a particular time or in a particular place )

The Roman Catholic Church traces its origins back to the 4th century.

trace sth's evolution (= find the origins of when an animal, plant etc began or where it came from )

Anthropologists can trace the evolution of plants and animals by examining fossils.

trace sth's evolution (= find the origins of when something began or where it came from )

The show traced the evolution of black American music from gospel through soul to hip-hop

trace the history of sth (= find out what the history of something is )

James traces the history of modern cricket back to its beginnings in the late 1700s.

trace the origin of sth (= find where, when etc something began to exist )

It’s difficult to trace the origin of some words.

trace/hint/touch of irony

Wagner calls his program ‘the worst talk show in America,’ without a hint of irony.

tracing paper

vanish without (a) trace/vanish off the face of the earth (= disappear so that no sign remains )

The youngster vanished without a trace one day and has never been found.

COLLOCATIONS FROM CORPUS

■ ADVERB

back

Could the jeopardy you were in be traced back to the school somehow?

A tax on inherited estates began in 1894, though death duties can be traced back much further.

The theory is that the rage and intensity with which he plays can be traced back to his childhood.

The role of auditors can be traced back many hundreds of years.

The money was traced back to the bills missing from the bank, and the man got what was coming to him.

Each word has component parts which can be traced back to one of 800 roots.

Such patterns could be traced back to the original ranchos, five of which once divided up the Los Angeles basin.

■ NOUN

ancestry

Incidentally, this means that we can use mitochondria to trace our ancestry , strictly down the female line.

Different parts of the cells of trees or elephants trace their ancestry to a whole range of ancient beings.

development

Costing about £150,000, the exhibition traces the development of trams in towns and cities throughout Britain from the Victorian era.

The museum's collecting philosophy is to acquire multiple works of individual artists in order to fully trace their development .

This work traces the development of social movement theory and research.

This knowledge allows him to trace the development of Proustian themes and reconstruct how Proust wrote his book, step by step.

The present system of bargaining and control is therefore best understood by tracing its origins and developments .

In the How to series, Hazel Richardson traces the development of scientific ideas and their applications.

Marshall traced the development of a legal status of citizenship in the United Kingdom through a number of historical stages.

The purpose is to trace the development of expertise in the comprehension and use of GIS-generated maps.

evolution

But the task of this chapter, of tracing the evolution of learning and memory-like phenomena in non-human animals, is done.

The result is deeply layered, complex works tracing that evolution in its historical perspective.

family

The Red Cross is often asked to trace family members and friends who have become separated.

He has made queries to newsgroups, keeping an attentive eye out for others who might be tracing the same family .

Newsgroups are also highly popular as a means of tracing family members who may have fled conflict or natural disaster.

He traced his Ulster family with the help of Barnardos and by placing advertisements in Belfast newspapers.

Last night police were trying to trace relatives of the family , who are thought to have lived in Bristol.

Also, is it possible to trace my family records from this?

Much effort went into tracing remote family connections abroad on the off chance of identifying a benefactor.

finger

My finger traces a path down to the peninsula of Grand Isle.

The middle finger traced a heart on her lips.

She could feel his fingers tracing the curve of her neck.

She felt Ferdi's fingers trace the line of her lashes along her cheek and smiled.

Even now, the fist's bud flowers into trembling, the fingers trace each line and see the future then.

I raise my arm, my finger traces a bird on the shape of the moon over the trees in front of me.

With an outstretched finger , she traced the lines of Pascoe's sleeping face.

Then, his aunt, her long cool fingers tracing his features, stroking his hair.

history

It is possible to obtain Parliamentary materials and it is possible to trace the history .

Her life traced the social history of women in this century.

Rawcliffe Rawcliffe can trace its history back to 1078, the name of the village undergoing many changes in that time.

We have traced her history from the great goddesses of the pre-patriarchal period, especially Inanna and her handmaiden, Lilith.

Can you help me trace the history of my Land Rover?

The book by Folkwin Wendland, a trained garden- and landscape architect, traces its history since 1450.

After a friend recognised the piece of furniture, Mr Pilkington began tracing its history .

And trace the history of Harry Corbett and his successor Matthew Corbett.

line

Purse-strings, whether tightly or slackly held, tend faithfully to trace lines of power.

And I began tracing the lines of his face.

Water trickled from the brown earth near the roots of the bush and traced a dark line through the tall grass.

It has begun tracing lines , through totally vacant space, between recurrences.

The crimson rivulets were lengthening, tracing lines down his throat and soaking into the collar of his overalls.

I hugged him, then traced lines on his biceps, around his back, a five-finger exercise pianissimo.

She felt Ferdi's fingers trace the line of her lashes along her cheek and smiled.

He traced the heart line from her chin to her forehead and down again.

lines

Purse-strings, whether tightly or slackly held, tend faithfully to trace lines of power.

And I began tracing the lines of his face.

The crimson rivulets were lengthening, tracing lines down his throat and soaking into the collar of his overalls.

It has begun tracing lines , through totally vacant space, between recurrences.

More deflector panels sweep the beam backwards and forwards across the screen to trace out the picture lines .

I hugged him, then traced lines on his biceps, around his back, a five-finger exercise pianissimo.

Cyclists traced greasy lines up and down the tarmac.

With an outstretched finger, she traced the lines of Pascoe's sleeping face.

origin

Their analysis traces the political origins and impact of social movement activity in terms of the protection of individual rights of citizenship.

If today such spending amounts to roughly two-thirds of all economic activity, we can trace its origin back to the 1920s.

The present system of bargaining and control is therefore best understood by tracing its origins and developments.

Cellular technology is not a new concept; some authorities have traced its origins to 1947.

This makes tracing the origin a difficult matter.

Many trace the origin of this crisis to the 1993 advent of free agency, which has sent salaries skyrocketing.

They are a very old family and trace their origins back right through the centuries.

In raising such questions, the intention is to lay warnings about tracing the origins of voluntary collectivism in selected traditions.

outline

Slowly and sensually he traced the outline of her lips with the tip of his tongue.

His hand moved round and round, tracing the outline of a blue ring.

Who will trace in sleep the outline of my hips?

I eased the steel strip out, drawing it downward to trace the outline of what seemed to be a bolt.

The artist then laboriously traces the outline of the image placing anchor points and stretching the curves or lines between them.

It's said that he first traced the outline for his ladylike creation around a tall woman friend.

If it is thin enough you will be able to trace the outlines of a plot originally drawn on graph paper.

Instead his mouth pressed against the soft cotton, tracing the outline of her body and making her shudder.

owner

They would be responsible for reminders when premiums became due, and could trace owners through their records.

Voice over Police are hoping to trace original owners but admit it's an uphill task.

With luck, it would contain enough information to trace its owner .

Washing line: Police in Ripon are trying to trace the owners of stolen washing recovered after four men were arrested.

Despite efforts by the police to trace the original owners , some jewellery has remained unclaimed.

Computerised equipment can trace registered owners and send out hundreds of summonses each day.

They'd attempt to trace the owner and inform him, and that was it.

path

My finger traces a path down to the peninsula of Grand Isle.

That other story, likewise, traced the path from poverty to wealth and obscurity to fame.

Through the binoculars, I traced the path I had taken the night before when following Victor.

On this basis, the possibility can be envisaged of tracing the paths of divergent theistic routes.

pattern

But he sat on the stump, tracing patterns in the earth.

She traced a pattern over the rough-hewn stone of the sill, while behind her there was no sound of retreating footsteps.

Various spirals, therefore, trace the patterns of our most important heavenly bodies.

Idly she traced the pattern of the marble-topped table with a slender finger.

Children can trace animal locomotion patterns on lit-up footprints and use plasma screens to project kaleidoscopic patterns on the wall.

The invisible lines, which traced the patterns of their existence, merged into one.

police

It did not take long for the police to trace Mrs Dyer to Caversham where she was arrested.

Mr Collier was last seen alive on June 6 returning to his flat with another man whom police are trying to trace .

Last night police were trying to trace relatives of the family, who are thought to have lived in Bristol.

It took police four days to trace the couple to Bridgnorth in Ontario.

Voice over Police are hoping to trace original owners but admit it's an uphill task.

But police failed to trace the man.

The driver was certified dead at the scene and police were trying to trace relatives last night.

Despite efforts by the police to trace the original owners, some jewellery has remained unclaimed.

problem

Many patients with severe chemical sensitivity trace their problems back to an incident of this sort.

Partnerships have the same tracing problems as sole proprietorships.

Sometimes it is possible to trace some problems with tempo or balance to the parts the musicians are using.

The issue involved with the tracing of any problem or interest is to identify each nexus where a departure becomes apparent.

route

Wycliffe traced the route the undertaker must have taken.

Some will be fitted with satellite collars, in an effort to trace their migratory route .

She began to divert from the path, tracing a semicircular route round the bonnet of the car.

source

For these reasons it is often difficult in many cases to trace a single primary source .

You set up a money chain that makes it impossible to trace the source .

In fact, however far back I trace the source in a horizontal manner, I never reach an ultimate answer.

This sample is being traced through such sources as the Registrar of Births and Deaths, and was identified again in 1981.

In an impressive dream sequence, Westland traces the source of this business inadequacy to his helicopter childhood and wakes up screaming.

This has shown that the two areas produce distinctive mineral suites that can be used to trace the source of ancient sediments.

Trading standards officers are now trying to trace the source of these videos.

The two women remained motionless, gazing up at the ceiling as if to trace the source and direction of the footsteps.

■ VERB

attempt

Although this road emerges on the eastern side of the town, attempts to trace it much further have failed.

The first task attempted will be to trace the train of thought in this unit.

They'd attempt to trace the owner and inform him, and that was it.

begin

She began to trace circles on the table top with the drops of spilt coffee.

And I began tracing the lines of his face.

After a friend recognised the piece of furniture, Mr Pilkington began tracing its history.

It has begun tracing lines, through totally vacant space, between recurrences.

help

Can you help me trace the history of my Land Rover?

The information will help law enforcement authorities trace ownership of the weapon back to the original gun dealer.

He'd even questioned some of the older members of the Lucy Ghosts in private to help trace the fugitive.

try

Police are still trying to trace the occupants of the house in Labrok Road, Trowbridge.

Rumors battled with fact as authorities tried to trace his flight.

Detectives are now trying to trace the ringleader of what could be a new international racket.

Mr Collier was last seen alive on June 6 returning to his flat with another man whom police are trying to trace .

Police in Herefordshire were last night trying to trace Theresa's relatives, who are believed to be on holiday.

It is always worth trying to trace a specific witness if their testimony is important.

Police are trying to trace a young woman cyclist who passed the victim moments before the attack.

Detectives are still trying to trace people who knew Mr McEvoy.

EXAMPLES FROM OTHER ENTRIES

"Did you draw this yourself?" "No, I traced it."

Keep him on the line so we can trace the call.

Philips hired a private detective to trace his daughter, who had been missing for two months.

Police are still trying to trace the missing child.

Police are trying to trace a red van, which several witnesses reported seeing near the scene of the crime.

Students will trace the development of labor unions in the U.S.

The cash was eventually traced to a prominent Paris lawyer.

The children traced the map of France and then wrote in the names of the places they had visited.

The tradition traces back to medieval Spain.

EXAMPLES FROM CORPUS

It has begun tracing lines, through totally vacant space, between recurrences.

It takes a bit of detective work to trace the symptom back to the cause.

Nor is the manner in which Mumford traces the historical roots of this development much different from that of Wittfogel.

Once again one can trace some continuities of practice with older forms of representation.

The other student has not been traced.

Their ancestry can be traced in the Reading area as far back as 1240.

II. noun

COLLOCATIONS FROM CORPUS

■ ADJECTIVE

faint

There are faint traces of tyre on the road, but no serious skidding.

Actually there is a faint trace of saccharine here.

faintest

Just looked steadily back at him with the faintest trace of a smile.

His own hair was combed out over his shoulders, and for make-up he had used only the faintest trace of kohl.

only

When I examined my own horse's stable I found only traces of hay.

Earlier plot sequences recede into the past of the text; now Slothrop exists only in traces .

Celia perished trying to help some natives dying of pestilence. Only traces of her body have been found.

slight

Never buy a Koi with the slightest trace of fish-pox, for you risk transferring it to your existing fish.

Even if the ship had passed it by, it would not have known the slightest trace of disappointment.

Not the slightest trace of elil no scent or tracks or droppings.

■ NOUN

amount

But there are trace amounts of other elements entrapped within the flint.

The principal immunoglobulin found in secretions is IgA with only trace amounts of IgG present.

analysis

Quantification procedures for micro and trace analysis as well as for surface and thin film analysis are summarized.

A major difficulty is in achieving reliable trace analysis results.

Chapter one discusses the approach to achieving valid trace analysis .

The range comprises the 759A UV/Vis detector, the 785A for trace analysis and the 1000S photodiode array detector.

element

Other minerals required by the body are selenium, manganese, sodium, and other trace elements .

I built up my soil, added trace elements , made compost, never used herbicides or chemical insecticides.

Combinations of other trace elements may also be associated with cobalt-bearing minerals and may be detected in ancient blue glass.

The resin removes the calcium bicarbonate, leaving behind all the essential trace elements .

These deposits also contain various other mineral trace elements .

These days everyone is becoming an expert in the nutritional value of different foods and the importance of vitamins and trace elements .

Or pellets impregnated with trace elements could improve the diets of cattle in impoverished pastures similar pellets would protect cattle from parasites.

While decreasing your energy intake, you must continue to eat enough essential nutrients, such as vitamins, minerals and trace elements .

metal

The movement of trace-elements through the environment A large number of chemical reactions take place when trace metals move through the environment.

Continued secretion of cations into gastrointestinal fluids may therefore be important in influencing the absorption of dietary trace metals .

Contamination and poor analytical techniques presumably explain why previous values for trace metals in gastric juice were so high.

■ VERB

bear

At all times, he claims, linen bears the traces of the war between the partners.

Every landscape bears the traces of this continuous and cumulative labour, generation after generation contributing to the whole.

However, her play bore no trace of diminished strength, even at the end.

Let it not bear the traces of work, the traces of time.

His blue eyes beneath the shock of white hair bore a trace of irony.

The sleeve had been carefully spread out and the cuff bore a trace of what could have been blood.

contain

Recent work on the silver coinage has revealed a complex system of which even Domesday contains little trace .

The result is a fine-grained rock containing small traces of metallic iron.

It contains traces of people who are among the first to be photographed in city streets anywhere in the world.

It is located throughout the grains of minerals that contain traces of uranium and thorium, not on grain surfaces.

The flattened rectangular section behind the neck contains traces of a large iron blade, possibly a double-edged dagger or short sword.

These deposits also contain various other mineral trace elements.

Government figures showed that in 1987, 1.6 million people were supplied with water containing too-high traces of nitrates.

Unknown to her, it contained tiny traces of nuts.

detect

He thought that here and there in the slaves he could detect traces of an old lineage.

disappear

Without radio play, a record can disappear without trace .

In 1926, mystery writer Agatha Christie suddenly disappeared without a trace from her native Devon.

The Kershaw Worm had disappeared without a trace .

Two months later, when the researchers went back to look for the megaplume, it had disappeared without a trace .

That way they would disappear without trace .

Hundreds of people disappeared without trace every year.

Just about everyone hoped they would disappear without trace when that tide ebbed and frenetic buying and selling ground to a halt.

It is a bit more surprising, however, when that dealer disappears without a trace .

find

But they found no trace of the highly profitable illegal cargo that it was supposed to be carrying.

Navy planes and ships in abundance combed that area but found no trace .

They found the jacket had been bleached - forensic laboratories could find no trace of blood.

The moment I read it I knew I had found the traces of the primal spirituality I was looking for.

When I examined my own horse's stable I found only traces of hay.

Much later, I learn that he had an artificial leg and limped, but I never find a trace of him.

Although Dundalk is supposed to be a seaside town, I could find no trace of a harbour.

Suppose he went in somewhere above Teddington - you'd almost certainly find traces of fresh water in the clothes.

kick

The poor little thing was kicking against the traces , but she would have to be broken in.

They fall down and get up again; they educate themselves and kick over the traces .

But perhaps even misogynists can kick over the traces .

If one of them kicked over the traces , there was hell to pay until he fell obediently back into line.

leave

Whoever had worked on the case in the laboratory would have been smarter than to leave any traces of the implant visible.

In a sense the Earth was reborn without leaving a trace of its early history.

Not surprisingly the temporary structures erected in these areas have left few archaeological traces .

Three or four shooters would vanish completely, leaving scant traces of their affiliation.

It is curious that a much-employed binder, as he obviously was, should have left no trace in the records.

These narrators know they will go on to leave no trace of their existence.

After a moment the impact vanished, leaving no trace .

I eliminated the primary target and left no traces .

lose

His fitness and determination ensured that he survived a journey on which a lesser man could have been lost without trace .

All sociologists have noted this desire, on the part of immigrants' children, to lose the traces of their origin.

remain

Eighteenth-century maps of historic towns often show elaborate formal gardens behind the houses, but very few traces of these remain .

The epidermis degenerates and little trace of its cells remains in the fully hardened wings.

Despite desperate attempts to revive her, the trace remained stubbornly flat, until in the end they had to give up.

Lyonshall Station was, and I very much doubt that any trace of it remains today, in a very dangerous condition.

His hair was grey but with a trace of red hair remaining in his bushy eyebrows.

Dioxins from the process may be discharged in factory effluent and some traces remain in the paper goods themselves.

When no trace of hair remained visible, he applied strips of newspaper and a warmed towel to complete the process.

Afterwards it vanished without trace and the buyer remains unknown.

remove

She puts them in the washing machine, on long soak, and removes every trace .

He followed all her movements with dreamlike detachment; an all-engulfing numbness seemed to have removed every trace of feeling from him.

They went to considerable lengths to remove all traces of her from the offices and rooms she had used at the Palace.

Once you have dismantled all the loose joints, carefully remove all traces of the old adhesive.

Wipe the wood with a cloth moistened with white spirit to remove any traces of grease or dust.

Although he had removed all trace of labelling from the cassette the Duty Men were not fooled.

When dealing with windows, remove all traces of rust and apply a neutralising agent to badly affected areas.

Both are more refreshing than a toner - and more effective methods of removing the last traces of make-up and oil.

reveal

The bat wing membrane still reveals traces of an apparatus originally constructed for gliding.

Careful scrutiny by telescopes and space probes reveals no trace of any such object.

show

Two tissues discovered in the vicinity showed traces of her mucus and her saliva.

From the start, she ran with authority, showing not a trace of her shyness.

I asked myself how it was that no exhibition had ever shown any trace of eroticism in his work.

Which I did, showing the trace of a distinguished limp.

Tests both in New York and London showed traces of cocaine on over 70 % of bank notes.

Within an hour, 7794 was a dwindling star, showing no trace of a disk.

Salome's blood sample showed no trace of alcohol.

The quotation from Sir William Jones at the beginning of this section shows traces of this prejudice.

sink

Early attempts - including putting a ping-pong ball inside a soap bar - sank without trace .

Now that has all been sunk without trace .

Then the shipyards sank without trace , and it was three years on the dole.

But unlike the Titanic, the story of the Tek Sing and its passengers sank without trace .

If he possessed mind-reading powers, she was sunk without a trace .

It was even tried years ago by Olivetti among others, but those products sank without trace .

Seven singles were to be released from the album, all sinking without a trace .

vanish

After a moment the impact vanished , leaving no trace .

Most of these fireballs burn up or explode in the atmosphere and vanish without a trace .

Well, Poppy vanished without trace .

Many more vanished without a trace .

The relationship lasted for almost three months; then Lavinia vanished without trace .

How can an entire house vanish without a trace .

Moira Anderson vanished without trace in a snow storm while running an errand for her grandmother on 23 February 1957.

PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES

kick over the traces

But perhaps even misogynists can kick over the traces.

If one of them kicked over the traces, there was hell to pay until he fell obediently back into line.

They fall down and get up again; they educate themselves and kick over the traces.

sink without trace

But unlike the Titanic, the story of the Tek Sing and its passengers sank without trace.

Early attempts - including putting a ping-pong ball inside a soap bar - sank without trace.

It was even tried years ago by Olivetti among others, but those products sank without trace.

Many small labels have sunk without trace.

Now that has all been sunk without trace.

The Labour government broke up and the report of the Macmillan Committee sank without trace.

Then the shipyards sank without trace, and it was three years on the dole.

EXAMPLES FROM OTHER ENTRIES

Hans speaks English beautifully, without a trace of a foreign accent.

Many local people were very eager to get rid of the last traces of their town's shameful past.

The thief was careful not to leave any trace of his activities.

EXAMPLES FROM CORPUS

But this time she couldn't help feeling a trace , just a whisper of his elation.

Celestine was scraping the last traces from her bowl when Lufkin walked over to the cabinet holding his record collection.

Early attempts - including putting a ping-pong ball inside a soap bar - sank without trace .

In 1928 and 1931, two large earthquakes in New Zealand produced strong traces on Seismographs throughout the world.

It contains traces of people who are among the first to be photographed in city streets anywhere in the world.

The flattened rectangular section behind the neck contains traces of a large iron blade, possibly a double-edged dagger or short sword.

The job involves tracking packages, running traces.

Longman DOCE5 Extras English vocabulary.      Дополнительный английский словарь Longman DOCE5.