trace

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[[t]treɪs[/t]]

n. v. traced, trac•ing,

1) 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) chem. an extremely small amount of some chemical component:

a trace of copper in the ore[/ex]

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

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

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

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. Math.

a) the intersection of two planes, or of a plane and a surface

b) the sum of the elements along the principal diagonal of a square matrix

11) 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[/ex]

14) to ascertain by investigation; discover

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

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

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

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

19) to go back in history, ancestry, or origin

20) to follow a course, trail, etc

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Etymology: 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. II

trace

[[t]treɪs[/t]] n.

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

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- kick over the traces

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