What does "tracing" mean?

1. (copying a drawing) a copy of a drawing made by drawing over the lines on a piece of thin, clear paper. 2. (finding or tracking) the act of finding where something came from or where it went by following clues. 3. (a machine graph) a line or graph drawn by a machine that measures something, like a heartbeat or an earthquake.

tracing

US //ˈtɹeɪsɪŋ// UK //tɹˈeɪsɪŋ// trac·ing

1 copying a drawing (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

a copy of a drawing made by drawing over the lines on a piece of thin, clear paper.

a reproduction of an image created by following its outlines through translucent paper.

Example

The architect made a tracing of the original floor plan to show the new changes.

Example

The student produced a precise tracing of the anatomical diagram, ensuring every delicate nerve ending was captured on the overlay.
- original
2 finding or tracking (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

the act of finding where something came from or where it went by following clues.

the process of identifying the origin, location, or history of something through systematic investigation.

Example

The tracing of the stolen money led the police to a small bank in another country.

Example

The tracing of the virus's spread required an exhaustive analysis of international travel records and local contact patterns.

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3 a machine graph (n.)
C1 Advanced Technical Science

a line or graph drawn by a machine that measures something, like a heartbeat or an earthquake.

a graphical record produced by a self-registering instrument such as a seismograph or electrocardiograph.

Example

The doctor looked at the tracing from the heart monitor to check for problems.

Example

The seismologist examined the erratic tracing on the drum, noting that the primary waves indicated a significant tectonic shift nearby.

Origin

From Middle English tracyng; equivalent to trace + -ing.