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

Examples of tracing in a Sentence

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 The goal of the agency’s national tracing center is to slow down those pathways or stop them completely, ATF Director Steven Dettelbach told CNN. Emma Tucker, CNN, 4 Mar. 2024 Blockchain and smart contracts are enabling the tracking and tracing of materials—from gold to airplane parts to carbon—across complex ecosystems. François Candelon, Fortune, 5 Jan. 2024 The report accuses the facilities of still failing to properly train their staff or comply with basic infection control protocols, such as testing, contact tracing and isolation of sick residents. Jessica Xing, CNN, 7 Sep. 2023 While some users were shocked by the green dye, this isn’t the first time NYC has implemented dye tracing. Charna Flam, Peoplemag, 14 Nov. 2023 These people do contact tracing and outreach, and are a key piece of trying to stop the spread of syphilis, which reached a low point in the U.S. in 2000 but has increased almost every year since. Kenya Hunter, Fortune Well, 28 Oct. 2023 Hamas, for instance, raised $41 million in cryptocurrency over the past two years, and Palestinian Islamic Jihad raised $91 million, according to a report last week in the Wall Street Journal that cited analyses by cryptocurrency tracing firms and seizures by the Israeli government. WIRED, 19 Oct. 2023 Officials also pointed to funding for gun tracing and ongoing diplomatic efforts to train and equip Mexican law enforcement with that technology. E.d. Cauchi, CBS News, 15 Sep. 2023 But any law enforcement agency, whether local or federal, which has the capability to do its own crypto tracing will do so, without relying on an outside firm, and without charging the victim any money. Cyrus Farivar, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2023

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 19 Mar. 2024.

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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