tracetreɪs(n.; v.)traced, trac•ing

1. (n.)a surviving mark, sign, or evidence of the former existence, influence, or action of some agent or event; vestige.

2. a barely discernible indication or evidence of some quantity, quality, characteristic, expression, etc.

3. an extremely small amount of some chemical component:

   a trace of copper in the ore.

   Category: Chemistry

4. traces, the series of footprints left by an animal.

5. the track left by the passage of a person, animal, or object.

6. precipitation of less than 0.005 in. (0.127 mm).

   Category: Meteorology

7. a trail or path, esp. through wild or open territory, made by the passage of people, animals, or vehicles.

8. a tracing, drawing, or sketch of something.

9. a lightly drawn line, as the record drawn by a self-registering instrument.

10. Math. the intersection of two planes, or of a plane and a surface. the sum of the elements along the principal diagonal of a square matrix.

    Category: Math

11. (v.t.)to follow the footprints, track, or traces of.

12. to follow (footprints, evidence, the history or course of something, etc.).

13. to follow the course, development, or history of:

    to trace a political movement.

14. to ascertain by investigation; discover.

15. to draw (a line, outline, figure, etc.).

16. to make a plan, diagram, or map of.

17. to copy (a drawing, plan, etc.) by following the lines of the original on a superimposed transparent sheet.

    Category: Printing

18. to make an impression or imprinting of (a design, pattern, etc.).

    Category: Printing

19. (v.i.)to go back in history, ancestry, or origin.

20. to follow a course, trail, etc.

Origin of trace:

1250–1300; ME: to make one's way, proceed < MF tracier < VL *tractiāre, der. of L tractus, ptp. of trahere to draw, drag

trace′a•ble(adj.)

tracetreɪs(n.)

1. either of the two straps, ropes, or chains by which a carriage, wagon, or the like is drawn by a harnessed horse or other draft animal.

Idioms for trace:

1. kick over the traces, to throw off restraint; become independent or defiant.

   Category: Idiom

Origin of trace:

1300–50; ME trais < MF, pl. of trait strap for harness < L tractus dragging