- trace
- [[t]tre͟ɪs[/t]]
♦♦♦traces, tracing, traced1) VERB If you trace the origin or development of something, you find out or describe how it started or developed.
[V n] The exhibition traces the history of graphic design in America from the 19th century to the present...
[V n] I first went there to trace my roots, visiting my mum's home island of Jamaica...
[V n to n] The psychiatrist successfully traced some of her problems to severe childhood traumas.
Trace back means the same as trace.V n P to n
Britain's Parliament can trace its history back to the English Parliament of the 13th century... V P n (not pron) She has never traced back her lineage, but believes her grandparents were from Aberdeenshire.2) VERB If you trace someone or something, you find them after looking for them.[V n] Police are anxious to trace two men seen leaving the house just before 8am...
[V n] We are currently trying to trace the whereabouts of certain sums of money...
[V n to n] They traced the van to a New Jersey car rental agency.
3) VERB If you trace something such as a pattern or a shape, for example with your finger or toe, you mark its outline on a surface.[V n] I traced the course of the river on the map spread out on my briefcase.
4) VERB If you trace a picture you copy it by covering it with a piece of transparent paper and drawing over the lines underneath.[V n] She learned to draw by tracing pictures out of old storybooks.
5) N-COUNT: usu N of n A trace of something is a very small amount of it.Wash them in cold water to remove all traces of sand...
He took great pains to write on his subject without a trace of sensationalism.
6) N-COUNT: usu N of n, also without N A trace is a sign which shows you that someone or something has been in a place.The local church has traces of fifteenth-century frescoes...
There's been no trace of my aunt and uncle...
Finally, and mysteriously, Hoffa disappeared without trace.
7) PHRASE: V inflects If you say that someone or something sinks without trace or sinks without a trace, you mean that they stop existing or stop being successful very suddenly and completely.The Social Democratic Party has sunk without trace at these elections...
Pop groups are like Olympic swimmers - they hit gold once, then they sink without trace.
Phrasal Verbs:
English dictionary. 2008.
