I. ˈtrās noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French, from tracer, tracier to trace — more at trace II
1. archaic : a course or path that one follows : road , route ; also : a way of life or conduct
2.
a. traces plural : the line of footprints left by an animal
followed the traces of the deer into the swamp
b. : the line or track left by something that has passed
the trace of a sleigh in the snow
c. : a path or trail beaten by or as if by the passage of feet
a sheep trace along the hill
also : a marked or blazed trail through woods or over open lands
3.
a. obsolete : footprint
b. : a sign or evidence of something once present, influential, felt, or otherwise prominent : a mark left behind
traces of an earlier civilization
c. : a neural or mental alteration produced by the learning process : engram
4. : something traced or drawn (as a traced or lightly marked line): as
a. : the marking made by a recording instrument (as a seismograph or kymograph)
b. : the ground plan of a fortified work, defensive position, minefield, or other military installation either in reproduction (as on a map or photograph) or on the ground
c. : an unbroken line of hair (as on the back of some dogs) darker than or otherwise distinguished from the remainder of the coat
5.
a. : the intersection of a line or plane with a plane or other surface and especially with a plane of projection
b. : the line of intersection of a plane (as a fault or bedding plane) with the surface of the ground — compare strike
c. : the usually bright line or spot that moves across the screen of a cathode ray tube (as in a radar set or other electronic device) ; also : the path taken by such a line or spot
6.
a. : a minute and often barely detectable amount or indication
a mere trace of a smile
lost without a trace
needs just a trace more salt
b. : a very small quantity of a chemical constituent or component especially when not quantitatively determined because of minuteness
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English tracen, from Middle French tracer, tracier, from (assumed) Vulgar Latin tractiare to drag, draw, from Latin tractus, past participle of trahere to draw, pull, drag — more at draw
transitive verb
1. : to make or record by drawing: as
a. : delineate , sketch , outline
trace a design for a fresco
b. : to form (as characters in writing) with care : write (as letters or figures) carefully or with nicety
c. : to copy (as a drawing, engraving, or manuscript) by following the lines or letters as seen through a transparent sheet superimposed on the original
d. : to impress or imprint (as a design or pattern) with or as if with a tracer ; also : to make an imprint of such an item for (as a fabric, metal)
e. : to record (as the movements of a muscle) in the form of a curved, wavy, or broken line : make a tracing of
the cardiograph traces the heart action
f. : to make marks or lines on : adorn with tracery, chasing, or other linear ornamentation
traced windows in Gothic churches
2. archaic : to walk or travel over : to pass through : traverse
we do trace this alley up and down — Shakespeare
3.
a. : to follow the footprints of : pursue the trail of or course or route taken by : track down
trace game to its lair
b. : to follow or study out in detail or step by step : outline or present the development, progress, or history of
trace the history of a movement
c. : to discover or uncover by going backward over the evidence step by step : ascertain, establish, or attribute as a result of such retracing or reviewing
trace the cause of an epidemic
traced the failure of the project to indifference
d. : to discover traces or signs or evidence of : prove the existence or occurrence of
could not trace the hypothetical source of the Shakespearean play
e. : to make out by finding or examining traces or vestiges or remains : come to know, understand, or comprehend by such investigation
trace the former course of a river
trace him in his word, his works, his ways — William Cowper
f. : to find by following traces or the trail of ; especially : to ascertain the whereabouts or disposition of (as something passing from hand to hand or place to place)
unable to trace a lost letter or one's relatives
traced the missing man to Chicago
4. : to lay out the trace of (a military installation)
intransitive verb
1. : to make one's way : go: as
a. : to follow a track, trail, or other indicated way
b. dialect England : walk , march , trudge ; also : to ramble aimlessly
c. archaic : to perform dance steps : step a measure
d. obsolete : to tumble down : fall free
2. : to be traceable historically : go back in time — usually used with to
a family that traces to the Norman conquest
3. : to record on the cataloguing card for a main entry the headings under which added entries have been made
III. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English trais, plural, traces, from Middle French trais, traiz, plural of trait pull, draft, strap for harnessing — more at trait
1. : either of two straps, chains, or ropes of a harness extending from the collar or breast collar to a whiffletree attached to a vehicle or thing to be drawn : tug — see harness illustration
2. : a short line usually of wire or gut between a main fishing line and the hook or lure : leader
3. : the vascular supply of a leaf or branch consisting of one or more vascular bundles that are extensions of the central vascular cylinder ; also : one of the individual bundles of such a supply — see branch trace , leaf trace ; compare gap 6
4. : a connecting bar or rod pivoted at each end to the end of another piece and used for transmitting motion especially from one plane to another ; specifically : such a piece in an organ-stop action to transmit motion from the trundle to the lever actuating the stop slider
IV. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
archaic : to fasten (as a horse) by traces : hitch up
V. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English trasen, trassen, probably alteration of Middle French tresser to tress, from Old French trecier
: plait , braid ; specifically : to fasten (as onion bulbs or ears of corn) in bunches by braiding together the dry herbage (as of tops or shucks)
VI. noun
( -s )
: a traced string (as of onions or ears of corn)