I. ˈtrak noun
( -s )
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle English trak, from Middle French trac, perhaps of Germanic origin; akin to Middle Dutch tracken, trecken to pull, haul, march, Middle Low German trecken to pull — more at trek
1.
a. : detectable evidence that something has passed (as the wake of a ship, a line of footprints, or a wheel rut)
b. : a rough path or way formed by or as if by repeated chance footfalls : trail
c. : a way or road constructed and maintained for a specific purpose: as
(1) : a path or course laid out especially for racing or exercise
a cinder track
a half-mile track
especially : a running track on which athletic races are contested — distinguished from field
(2) : a metal way for wheeled vehicles ; specifically : one or more pairs of parallel lines of rails with the fastenings, ties, and sometimes ballast for a railroad, railway, or tramway
d. : a physical course by or on which something is recorded: as
(1) : the portion of the dial of a timepiece on which minutes or seconds are marked off between concentric bands
(2) : sound track
2.
a. : a footprint whether recent or fossil
the huge track of an old bull elephant
b. archaic : a visible mark or sign : vestige , trace
3.
a. : the course along which something moves
the track of a storm
his track led him over mountains and through swamps
the track of a bullet
— used interjectionally by a skier to warn anyone ahead of him on a trail or run; see pachisi illustration
b. : a way of life, conduct, or action : a course one adopts or follows : method , procedure
afraid the new administration would choose a different track in foreign affairs
c. : one of two or more courses of study covering the same general field usually at different levels of intensity and offered by a school to meet the diverse needs of particular groups of students
d. : the projection on the earth's surface of the path along which an aircraft has actually flown
4.
a. : a sequence of events or train of ideas : the order in which things happen or ideas come
my pen goes in the track of my thoughts — Edmund Burke
the recurrent track of the years
b. : the condition or fact of being aware of or in touch with something or some aspect (as the progress, count, extent, or worth) of something specified
lost track of his friend's address
keeping careful track of the costs
5. : any of several things or parts that make or are associated with the making of a track: as
a. : the width of a wheeled vehicle as measured from wheel to wheel and usually from the outside of the rims
b. : the tread of an automobile tire
c. : caterpillar tread
6. : the lower surface of the foot usually of a bird
7. Scotland : an odd spectacle : sight
8. : track-and-field sports ; especially : those (as running or hurdling events) that are performed on the running track — distinguished from field event
•
- across the tracks
- in one's tracks
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
transitive verb
1.
a. : to follow the tracks or traces of : pursue by following marks made by (the pursued) : trail
track a deer
b. : to follow until caught up with — used with adverbs of direction (as down )
track down a criminal
2. : to mark out or beat down (a path or other course)
3.
a. : to ascertain and follow up through vestiges : trace
track the course of an ancient wall
b. : to follow or plot the moving path of (a target) with an instrument (as a gun, telescope, or searchlight) for the purpose of determining point of aim, path of interception, or future position
4. : to pass over : travel , traverse
track a desert
5.
a. : to make tracks upon
new snow tracked by rabbits
especially : to carry mud or other soiling agent on the feet and deposit it upon — often used with up
don't track up my clean floor
b. : to carry (as mud) on the feet and deposit in stepping
tracked mud all over the house
6. : to furnish with tracks or rails — often used in compounds
single- track
double- track
intransitive verb
1. : to make one's way : walk , go , travel — often used with around, about, or up
got up late and tracked about for a while
2.
a. : to follow a track in searching
takes a woodsman to really track
b. : to move a camera toward, beside, or away from a subject on a smooth moving trolley or tricycle
c. of a phonograph needle : to follow the groove undulations of a recording
3.
a. of a pair of wheels
(1) : to maintain a constant distance apart on the straightaway
(2) : to fit a track or rails
b. of a rear wheel of a vehicle : to accurately follow its corresponding fore wheel on a straightaway
c. : to be in perfect alignment with a corresponding part — used especially of a gear or cutter
4. : to leave tracks (as on a floor)
tracking all over the house with his muddy boots
III. noun
( -s )
Etymology: by alteration of tract (III)
chiefly dialect : extent ; especially : an extent of land
IV. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: probably modification (influenced by track ) (II) of Dutch trekken to pull, from Middle Dutch trecken — more at track (n.)
transitive verb
1. : to draw along ; especially : to tow (as a ship) from the shore
2. chiefly Scotland : to prepare (tea) by infusing : draw
intransitive verb
: to become towed : travel in a towed boat
V. noun
( -s )
chiefly Scotland : teapot
VI. noun
1. : band I,8 ; also : any of several sections into which a recording medium (as magnetic tape or a floppy disk) may be divided and on which material (as music or information) may be recorded
2. : material recorded especially on a track : recording 2a
laugh track
several exuberant instrumental tracks
VII. transitive verb
1. : to assign (students) to a curricular track
2. : to keep track of (as a trend) : follow
intransitive verb
: to move or progress in accordance with or be consistent with an expected or reasonable pattern