tracing

noun

trac·​ing ˈtrā-siŋ How to pronounce tracing (audio)
1
: something that is traced: such as
a
: a copy made on a superimposed transparent sheet
b
: a graphic record made by an instrument (such as a seismograph) that registers some movement
2
: the act of one that traces

Example Sentences

the tracing of this mountain lion is going to be difficult if the rain washes away all of the tracks
Recent Examples on the Web China’s zero-Covid strategy aims to isolate individual cases and cut off transmission chains through a combination of quarantine, contact tracing, mass testing and strict lockdowns. Nigel Chiwaya, NBC News, 29 Nov. 2022 The problem is, being an early adopter of ray tracing isn't really relevant for mobile gaming. Ron Amadeo, Ars Technica, 6 Apr. 2023 This was enough evidence to confirm that the tracings were there, but the district couldn't identify who made them, or whether they were drawn to target Beloit Memorial. Quinn Clark, Journal Sentinel, 27 Mar. 2023 After the earliest weeks, when a local government coverup in Wuhan resulted in a disastrous spread of the virus, the national leadership instituted lockdowns, contact tracing, international-travel bans, and other policies that seemed appropriate to the situation. Peter Hessler, The New Yorker, 6 Dec. 2022 This projector functions as a fancy tracing tool. Ysolt Usigan, Woman's Day, 23 Nov. 2022 That includes contact tracing, vaccination of high-risk contacts, and access to antiviral drugs for the patient, if warranted. Helen Branswell And Andrew Joseph, STAT, 8 June 2022 Designers could tap technology like QR codes and blockchain to allow digital tracing of a product’s entire life cycle, identifying knots in the supply chain and keeping brands accountable. Alyssa Hardy, ELLE, 20 Mar. 2023 Seizing the servers of that mixing service may well foil the FTX thieves’ attempt to evade tracing and help solve one of the central mysteries of that high-profile heist. Matt Burgess, WIRED, 18 Mar. 2023 See More

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

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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

Dictionary Entries Near tracing

Cite this Entry

“Tracing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tracing. Accessed 31 May. 2023.

Kids Definition

tracing

noun
trac·​ing
ˈtrā-siŋ
1
: the act of one that traces
2
: something that is traced

Medical Definition

tracing

noun
trac·​ing ˈtrā-siŋ How to pronounce tracing (audio)
: a graphic record made by an instrument (as an electrocardiograph) that registers some movement

More from Merriam-Webster on tracing

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