Trace Definition

trās

traced, traces, tracing

noun

traces

A way followed or path taken.

Webster's New World

A mark, footprint, etc. left by the passage of a person, animal, or thing.

Webster's New World

Any perceptible mark left by a past person, thing, or event; sign; evidence; vestige.

The traces of war.

Webster's New World

A beaten path or trail left by the repeated passage of persons, vehicles, etc.

Webster's New World

A constituent, such as a chemical compound or element, present in quantities less than a standard limit.

American Heritage

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

Antonyms:
lot

verb

traced, traces, tracing

To move along, follow, or traverse (a path, route, etc.)

Webster's New World

To go back or date back (to something past)

Webster's New World

To follow the trail or footprints of; track.

Webster's New World

To follow the development, process, or history of, esp. by proceeding from the latest to the earliest evidence, etc.

Webster's New World

To ascertain the successive stages in the development or progress of.

Tracing the life cycle of an insect; trace the history of a family.

American Heritage

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

Antonyms:
ignore
run away

adjective

Occurring in extremely small amounts or in quantities less than a standard limit.

American Heritage

Synonyms:

Synonyms:
vestigial
delineative

idiom

kick over the traces

To act in a way that contravenes social expectations or propriety:

American Heritage

kick over the traces

to shake off control; show insubordination or independence

Webster's New World

Other Word Forms of Trace

Noun

Singular:

trace

Plural:

traces

Idioms, Phrasal Verbs Related to Trace

Origin of Trace

From Middle English tracen, from Old French tracer, trasser (“to delineate, score, trace", also, "to follow, pursue"), probably a conflation of Medieval Latin *tractiāre (“to delineate, score, trace"), from Latin trahere (“to draw"); and Old French traquer (“to chase, hunt, pursue"), from Old French trac (“a track, trace"), from Middle Dutch treck, treke (“a drawing, draft, delineation, feature, expedition"). More at track.

From Wiktionary
Middle English track from Old French from tracier to trace from Vulgar Latin tractiāre from Latin tractus a dragging, course from past participle of trahere to draw

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
Middle English trais from Old French pl. of trait a hauling, harness strap from Latin tractus a hauling from past participle of trahere to haul

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
From Middle English trace, traas, from Old French trace (“an outline, track, trace"), from the verb (see below).

From Wiktionary