ENGLISH
REFERENCE

traces

n. · v.
US //ˈtɹeɪsəz// UK //tɹˈeɪsɪz// traces
  1. 1 small amounts (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

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

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

    Example

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

    Example

    Archaeologists discovered faint traces of a Roman settlement beneath the modern city streets during the excavation.
  2. 2 to follow or find (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to find the origin of something or follow its history.

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

    Example

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

    Example

    The documentary traces the evolution of jazz from its roots in New Orleans to its global influence today.
  3. 3 to copy an outline (v.)
    B1 Intermediate

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

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

    Example

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

    Example

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

Last updated June 20, 2026