traces

n. very small marks or amounts of something that show it was there.

n. minute or barely detectable quantities or signs of a substance or past presence.

“The police found traces of mud on the carpet near the broken window.”

“Archaeologists discovered faint traces of a Roman settlement beneath the modern city streets during the excavation.”

v. to find the origin of something or follow its history.

v. to follow or determine the course, development, or history of something from its beginning.

“The book traces the history of the family back to the 1800s.”

“The documentary traces the evolution of jazz from its roots in New Orleans to its global influence today.”

v. to copy a drawing by drawing over its lines on a thin piece of paper.

v. to copy a drawing, map, or design by following its lines on a transparent sheet placed over it.

“The child carefully traces the shape of the letter with a red crayon.”

“The architect traces the original floor plan onto a new sheet to begin the renovation designs.”