trace

1 of 3

noun (1)

1
a
: a minute and often barely detectable amount or indication
a trace of a smile
b
: an amount of a chemical constituent not always quantitatively determinable because of minuteness
2
a
: a mark or line left by something that has passed
also : footprint
b
: a path, trail, or road made by the passage of animals, people, or vehicles
3
a
: a sign or evidence of some past thing : vestige
b
: engram
4
: something (such as a line) traced or drawn: such as
a
: the marking made by a recording instrument (such as a seismograph or kymograph)
b
: the ground plan of a military installation or position either on a map or on the ground
5
a
: the intersection of a line or plane with a plane
b
: the usually bright line or spot that moves across the screen of a cathode-ray tube
also : the path taken by such a line or spot
6
archaic : a course or path that one follows
traceless adjective

trace

2 of 3

verb

traced; tracing

transitive verb

1
b
: to form (letters, figures, etc.) carefully or painstakingly
c
: to copy (something, such as a drawing) by following the lines or letters as seen through a transparent superimposed sheet
d
: to impress or imprint (a design or pattern) with a tracer
e
: to record a tracing of in the form of a curved, wavy, or broken line
trace the heart action
f
: to adorn with linear ornamentation (such as tracery or chasing)
2
a
: to follow or study out in detail or step by step
trace the history of the war
b
: to discover by going backward over the evidence step by step
trace your ancestry
c
: to discover signs, evidence, or remains of
d
: to follow the footprints, track, or trail of
3
: to lay out the trace of (a military installation)
4
archaic : to travel over : traverse

intransitive verb

1
: to make one's way
especially : to follow a track or trail
2
: to be traceable historically
traceability noun

trace

3 of 3

noun (2)

1
: either of two straps, chains, or lines of a harness for attaching a draft animal to something (such as a vehicle) to be drawn
2
3
: one or more vascular bundles supplying a leaf or twig
Choose the Right Synonym for trace

trace, vestige, track mean a perceptible sign made by something that has passed.

trace may suggest any line, mark, or discernible effect.

the killer left no traces

vestige applies to a tangible reminder such as a fragment or remnant of what is past and gone.

boulders that are vestiges of the last ice age

track implies a continuous line that can be followed.

the fossilized tracks of dinosaurs

Examples of trace in a Sentence

Noun (1) the wolf came and went without leaving a trace on the hard, dry ground an old trace that dates back to the days of the covered wagon stay on the trace, or you'll get lost in these thick woods a ship that appears to have vanished without a trace on the high seas doctors detected only a trace of bacteria in the blood sample but put the patient on antibiotics just in case there didn't seem to be so much as a trace of the truth to anything he said followed the traces of the deer into the deep woods Verb The children traced their hands onto the sidewalk with chalk. You can put a piece of paper over the pattern and trace it. She traced the letters of her name. We will need to trace the electrical wires through the walls. The word “amiable” traces back to the Latin word for “friend.”
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
However, 1 teaspoon of pumpkin spice provides about 12% of the daily value (DV) of manganese, an essential trace mineral. Johna Burdeos, Health, 21 Oct. 2024 The report also indicated that toxicological and anatomical-pathological studies of Payne’s blood and urine were being undertaken to determine whether there were any traces of drugs in his system. Jenzia Burgos, StyleCaster, 20 Oct. 2024
Verb
Grog Grog is a hot drink that can be traced back to the British Navy in the 18th century. Jeanne Ballion, Vogue, 22 Oct. 2024 Drawing inspiration from ancient designs, its simple scissor-like shape, known as a curule seat, can be traced back to 1500 BC. Natalie Stoclet, Forbes, 22 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for trace 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'trace.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from tracer to trace

Verb

Middle English, from Anglo-French tracer, from Vulgar Latin *tractiare to drag, from Latin tractus, past participle of trahere to pull

Noun (2)

Middle English trais, from Anglo-French tres, plural of trait pull, draft, trace — more at trait

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 6

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of trace was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near trace

Cite this Entry

“Trace.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trace. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

trace

1 of 3 noun
1
2
: a mark left by something that has passed or is past
3
: a very small amount

trace

2 of 3 verb
traced; tracing
1
b
: to form (as letters) carefully
c
: to copy (as a drawing or pattern) by following the lines or letters as seen through a transparent sheet placed over the thing copied
d
: to make a graphic record of by a recording instrument
trace the heart action
2
a
: to follow the footprints, track, or trail of
b
: to study, follow, or show the development and progress of in detail
traceable adjective

trace

3 of 3 noun
: either of two straps, chains, or lines of a harness for attaching a horse to something (as a wagon or plow) to be pulled
Etymology

Noun

Middle English trace "a course, a mark left by something that passes," from early French trace (same meaning), from tracer (verb) "to sketch, show by drawn lines," derived from Latin tractus, past participle of trahere "to pull, drag" — related to abstract, attract, trace entry 3, trait

Noun

Middle English trais (plural) "two straps used for connecting a horse to a vehicle to be pulled," from early French tres, plural of trait, literally "act of pulling," from Latin tractus, past participle of trahere "to pull, drag" — related to abstract, attract, trace entry 1, trait

Medical Definition

trace

noun
1
: the marking made by a recording instrument (as a kymograph)
2
: an amount of a chemical constituent not always quantitatively determinable because of minuteness
3
: engram
trace transitive verb
traceable adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on trace

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