trace

Universal Words verb, noun verb [VN] 1 ~ sb/sth (to sth) to find or discover sb/sth by looking carefully for them/it: We finally traced him to an address in Chicago. * I have been unable to trace the letter you mentioned. 2 ~ sth (back) (to sth) to find the origin or cause of sth: She could trace her family tree back to the 16th century. * The leak was eventually traced to a broken seal. * The police traced the call (= used special electronic equipment to find out who made the telephone call) to her ex-husband's number. 3 to describe a process or the development of sth: Her book traces the town's history from Saxon times to the present day. 4 ~ sth (out) to draw a line or lines on a surface: She traced a line in the sand. 5 to follow the shape or outline of sth: He traced the route on the map. * A tear traced a path down her cheek. 6 to copy a map, drawing, etc. by drawing on transparent paper (= TRACINGPAPER) placed over it noun 1 [C,U] a mark, an object or a sign that shows that sb/sth existed or was present: It's exciting to discover traces of earlier civilizations. * Police searched the area but found no trace of the escaped prisoners. * Years of living in England had eliminated all trace of her American accent. * The ship had vanished without (a) trace. 2 [C] ~ of sth a very small amount of sth: The post-mortem revealed traces of poison in his stomach. * She spoke without a trace of bitterness. 3 [C] (technical) a line or pattern on paper or a screen that shows information that is found by a machine: The trace showed a normal heart rhythm. 4 [C,usually pl.] one of the two long pieces of leather that fasten a carriage or CART to the horse that pulls it IDIOMS see KICKv.