trace Definition
- 1a mark, object, or other indication of the existence or passing of something
- 2a very small quantity, especially one too small to be accurately measured
- 3find or discover by investigation
Using trace: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "trace" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The detective found a trace of blood on the carpet.
Example
There is no trace of the missing documents.
Example
She left without a trace.
Example
The recipe calls for a trace of nutmeg.
Example
The police are trying to trace the source of the call.
trace Synonyms and Antonyms
Idioms Using trace
Example
The plane vanished without a trace.
Example
He realized he had lost his keys and decided to trace his steps back to the car.
Example
The hikers were reminded to leave no trace and pack out all their trash.
Phrases with trace
a chemical element present only in minute amounts in a particular sample or environment
Example
Zinc is an essential trace element in the human diet.
a fossilized structure, such as a footprint, that formed in sedimentary rock by animal activity on or within soft sediment
Example
The trace fossil of a dinosaur footprint was discovered in the sandstone.
Example
The history of the family can be traced back to the 16th century.
Origins of trace
from Old French 'tracier', meaning 'to make a track'
Summary: trace in Brief
The term 'trace' [treɪs] refers to a mark, object, or indication of something's existence or passing. It can also denote a very small quantity, as in 'The recipe calls for a trace of nutmeg.' The verb form means to find or discover by investigation, as in 'The police are trying to trace the source of the call.' Phrases like 'trace element' and 'trace fossil' extend the concept, while idioms like 'without a trace' and 'trace one's steps' add figurative meanings.
