# trace /ˈtɹeɪs/ (US) · /tɹˈeɪs/ (UK) Source: https://englishreference.com/word/trace Updated: 2026-08-15 ## Senses ### 1. to find the origin verb · CEFR B1 to find the origin or history of something by following its development. For teachers: to investigate or delineate the history, origin, or development of something by following a series of clues or records. - The police were able to trace the phone call to a house in the suburbs. - Historians have attempted to trace the evolution of these social customs back to the early medieval period, though primary sources remain scarce. ### 2. to copy a drawing verb · CEFR B1 to copy a picture by putting a thin piece of paper over it and drawing the lines you see. For teachers: to copy a drawing, map, or design by following its lines on a superimposed transparent sheet. - The child used a window to trace the cartoon character onto a clean sheet of paper. - The architect carefully traced the original blueprints to ensure the renovation plans maintained the building's structural integrity. ### 3. to follow program execution verb · CEFR C1 · Technical to follow the steps of a computer program to see how it works or find mistakes. For teachers: to monitor the execution of a program by recording the sequence of instructions or state changes. - The developer had to trace the code to find where the error was happening. - By using a debugger to trace the execution flow, the engineer identified a race condition that only occurred during high network latency. ### 4. a tiny amount noun · CEFR B2 · Academic a very small amount of something, especially something that is left behind. For teachers: a minute or barely detectable amount of a substance, often residual in nature. - The lab found traces of a rare chemical in the water sample. - Forensic investigators discovered minute traces of copper on the victim's clothing, suggesting they had recently been in a machine shop. ### 5. a mark or sign noun · CEFR B1 a mark or sign that shows someone or something was there. For teachers: a visible mark, footprint, or sign left by the passage of a person, animal, or object. - The hikers disappeared without a trace during the heavy snowstorm. - The ancient hunters followed the faint traces of the herd across the dry riverbed, hoping to find them before dusk. ### 6. circuit board path noun · CEFR C1 · Technical a thin line of metal on a circuit board that carries electricity. For teachers: a conductive path or track on a printed circuit board that connects electronic components. - If a trace on the motherboard is broken, the computer will not start. - The high-frequency signals required the designer to carefully calculate the width and length of each copper trace to prevent interference. ### 7. matrix sum noun · CEFR C2 · Technical · Academic the sum of the numbers on the main diagonal of a square grid of numbers. For teachers: the sum of the elements on the main diagonal of a square matrix. - To solve the problem, you first need to calculate the trace of the matrix. - The trace of a linear transformation is invariant under a change of basis, making it a fundamental property in linear algebra. ### 8. harness strap noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic one of the two straps or chains that connect a horse's harness to a vehicle. For teachers: each of the two side-straps or chains by which a horse or other draught animal pulls a vehicle. - The horse pulled hard against the traces as the carriage moved up the hill. - The leather traces had become brittle with age, snapping suddenly when the wagon hit a deep rut in the road. ## Examples - The police found a trace of blood on the floor. - The laboratory test was sensitive enough to detect a tiny trace of the chemical in the water supply. - Archaeologists discovered a faint trace of an ancient wall, suggesting that the settlement was much larger than previously estimated by the research team. --- From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.