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
Noun (1)
the wolf came and went without leaving a trace on the hard, dry ground
an old trace that dates back to the days of the covered wagon
stay on the trace, or you'll get lost in these thick woods
a ship that appears to have vanished without a trace on the high seas
doctors detected only a trace of bacteria in the blood sample but put the patient on antibiotics just in case
there didn't seem to be so much as a trace of the truth to anything he said
followed the traces of the deer into the deep woods
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
Eduardo Cuevas, USA TODAY, 8 Dec. 2024
Although the traces found were low amounts, the water pollution is the latest in a series of stressors that marine animals are facing.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 6 Dec. 2024
Amanda Castro, Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2024
The sheer trend can be traced back to the ’70s and ’80s when Yves Saint Laurent and Halston showed subtle sheer looks, as did Marc Bohan for Dior.
—Marissa Muller, WWD, 8 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for trace 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
Research has shown the highest traces of bird flu virus detected on the cow are around its mammary glands and in the milk itself, said Davis, a former dairy veterinarian.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA TODAY, 8 Dec. 2024
Although the traces found were low amounts, the water pollution is the latest in a series of stressors that marine animals are facing.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 6 Dec. 2024
Verb
Experts have warned that ghost guns are particularly sought after by criminal organizations and right-wing extremists who want to easily access weapons that cannot be traced back to them, according to the Times.
—Amanda Castro, Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2024
The sheer trend can be traced back to the ’70s and ’80s when Yves Saint Laurent and Halston showed subtle sheer looks, as did Marc Bohan for Dior.
—Marissa Muller, WWD, 8 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for trace
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 22 Dec. 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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