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
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
traced; tracing
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
1
: to make one's way
especially
: to follow a track or trail
2
: to be traceable historically
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
3
: one or more vascular bundles supplying a leaf or twig
Synonyms
Examples of trace in a Sentence
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
USA TODAY, 12 Apr. 2024
Long-term exposure, even to traces of some of these chemicals, has been linked to cancer, liver and heart damage, developmental effects and reproductive disorders.
—The Arizona Republic, 10 Apr. 2024
Quick facts about American Safari Camp Established: 2010 Areas of Operation: Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, Montana
Company Motto: Leave no trace
Wildest place tent pitched: A sandbar in the middle of the Colorado River
This article appeared in the April 2024 issue of Condé Nast Traveler.
—Todd Plummer, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Apr. 2024
This is because natural Delta 8 only occurs in very small trace amounts in the hemp plant, and is difficult to extract on its own.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 2 Apr. 2024
The major mineral components between the samples were also relatively alike, except for higher levels of lead, tin, iron, and other trace minerals found in the Shackleton whole milk powder.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 28 Mar. 2024
The initial radar survey intended to locate any traces of the WWII battles that had taken place in the area.
—Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 2 Apr. 2024
These ideas bore traces of the Wachowskis’ diverse interests.
—Jordan Runtagh, Peoplemag, 31 Mar. 2024
Different soil types contribute to the flavor profile; volcanic soils or those with high mineral content can add traces of salinity, smoke, or what is simply called minerality.
—Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 28 Mar. 2024
Paul Davidson, USA TODAY, 11 Apr. 2024
The arc of Boeing’s fall can be traced back a quarter century, to when its leaders elevated the interests of shareholders above all others, said Richard Aboulafia, industry analyst with AeroDynamic Advisory.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 10 Apr. 2024
The museum's philosophical beginnings can be traced as far back as 1915 when the Phoenix Women's Club began purchasing art for the Phoenix Municipal Collection.
—Laura Daniella Sepulveda, The Arizona Republic, 10 Apr. 2024
More than 200 paintings, sculptures and drawings — with the odd photograph thrown in, and a plan to rotate some artworks — trace the flow of ideas from early modernism to the postwar era.
—Kriston Capps, Washington Post, 10 Apr. 2024
The revered restaurant, with roots tracing back more than two centuries, was once a hangout for Buffalo Bill.
—David Enrich, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2024
The Congressional Research Service traces provisions of federal law for that purpose back to 1934, more than 20 years before the Interstate Highway System was created.
—The Editors, National Review, 3 Apr. 2024
If Wolf Hall was about Cromwell’s rise from humble beginnings to become Henry VII’s chief advisor and one of the most powerful men of his age, The Mirror and the Light traces his final years, when King Henry’s reign is teetering on the edge.
—Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Apr. 2024
Published by Simon & Schuster, the new memoir traces the life of a girl who grew into a woman trying to understand her sociopathy, which today is often labeled as antisocial personality disorder.
—Jeffrey Fleishman, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2024
Noun
According to the Centers for Disease Control, chromium is a naturally present element with trace levels normally found in a person's diet.
—USA TODAY, 12 Apr. 2024
Long-term exposure, even to traces of some of these chemicals, has been linked to cancer, liver and heart damage, developmental effects and reproductive disorders.
—The Arizona Republic, 10 Apr. 2024
Quick facts about American Safari Camp Established: 2010 Areas of Operation: Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, Montana
Company Motto: Leave no trace
Wildest place tent pitched: A sandbar in the middle of the Colorado River
This article appeared in the April 2024 issue of Condé Nast Traveler.
—Todd Plummer, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Apr. 2024
This is because natural Delta 8 only occurs in very small trace amounts in the hemp plant, and is difficult to extract on its own.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 2 Apr. 2024
The major mineral components between the samples were also relatively alike, except for higher levels of lead, tin, iron, and other trace minerals found in the Shackleton whole milk powder.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 28 Mar. 2024
The initial radar survey intended to locate any traces of the WWII battles that had taken place in the area.
—Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 2 Apr. 2024
These ideas bore traces of the Wachowskis’ diverse interests.
—Jordan Runtagh, Peoplemag, 31 Mar. 2024
Different soil types contribute to the flavor profile; volcanic soils or those with high mineral content can add traces of salinity, smoke, or what is simply called minerality.
—Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 28 Mar. 2024
Verb
Much of the shortfall in white-collar hiring can be traced to employment by temporary help services, which has fallen by 181,000 over the past year.
—Paul Davidson, USA TODAY, 11 Apr. 2024
The arc of Boeing’s fall can be traced back a quarter century, to when its leaders elevated the interests of shareholders above all others, said Richard Aboulafia, industry analyst with AeroDynamic Advisory.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 10 Apr. 2024
The museum's philosophical beginnings can be traced as far back as 1915 when the Phoenix Women's Club began purchasing art for the Phoenix Municipal Collection.
—Laura Daniella Sepulveda, The Arizona Republic, 10 Apr. 2024
More than 200 paintings, sculptures and drawings — with the odd photograph thrown in, and a plan to rotate some artworks — trace the flow of ideas from early modernism to the postwar era.
—Kriston Capps, Washington Post, 10 Apr. 2024
The revered restaurant, with roots tracing back more than two centuries, was once a hangout for Buffalo Bill.
—David Enrich, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2024
The Congressional Research Service traces provisions of federal law for that purpose back to 1934, more than 20 years before the Interstate Highway System was created.
—The Editors, National Review, 3 Apr. 2024
If Wolf Hall was about Cromwell’s rise from humble beginnings to become Henry VII’s chief advisor and one of the most powerful men of his age, The Mirror and the Light traces his final years, when King Henry’s reign is teetering on the edge.
—Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Apr. 2024
Published by Simon & Schuster, the new memoir traces the life of a girl who grew into a woman trying to understand her sociopathy, which today is often labeled as antisocial personality disorder.
—Jeffrey Fleishman, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2024
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.
Articles Related to trace
Dictionary Entries Near trace
Cite this Entry
“Trace.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trace. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
trace
1 of 3 nountrace
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
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
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