# track

/ˈtɹæk/ (US) · /tɹˈæk/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/track
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. a mark or footprint

noun · CEFR A2

a mark or footprint left on the ground by a person, animal, or vehicle.

For teachers: a mark, footprint, or rut left by the passage of a person, animal, or vehicle.

- We followed the deer tracks through the fresh snow in the woods.
- The heavy rainfall had partially obscured the tire tracks, making it difficult for the investigators to determine the vehicle's direction of travel.

### 2. a path or road

noun · CEFR A2

a rough path or road, often made by people or animals walking there.

For teachers: a rough, unpaved path or road typically formed by the repeated passage of people, animals, or vehicles.

- The dirt track led us away from the main road and toward the farm.
- The hikers abandoned the paved road for a narrow mountain track that promised a more direct route to the summit.

### 3. railway

noun · CEFR A2

the metal rails that a train travels on.

For teachers: the pair of parallel metal rails over which a train or tram runs.

- The train stopped because there was a fallen tree on the track.
- Maintenance crews worked through the night to repair a section of the track that had buckled during the extreme summer heatwave.

### 4. sports circuit

noun · CEFR A2

a special circular path used for races, like running or cycling.

For teachers: a prepared circuit or course, typically oval, used for athletes, horses, or vehicles in competitive racing.

- The runners lined up on the track for the final race of the day.
- The new stadium features a high-performance synthetic track designed to reduce the impact on athletes' joints during long-distance events.

### 5. a song

noun · CEFR B1

one song or piece of music on a CD, record, or digital album.

For teachers: a single song or piece of music recorded on a larger collection such as an album or digital playlist.

- My favorite track on the new album is the slow acoustic song.
- The producer decided to remix the third track to give it a more contemporary electronic feel before the album's official release.

### 6. to follow or monitor

verb · CEFR B1

to follow the progress or movement of someone or something.

For teachers: to monitor the progress, development, or physical movement of a subject over a period of time.

- You can use the app to track your package while it is being delivered.
- The research team used satellite tags to track the migration patterns of whales across the Pacific Ocean over several months.

### 7. to make sense

verb · CEFR C1 · Informal

to be easy to understand or to match what you already know.

For teachers: to be consistent with known facts or to follow a logical progression.

- His story doesn't really track with what the other witnesses said.
- The financial data simply doesn't track with the projected growth figures, suggesting a significant error in the initial accounting process.

Usage: Usually used in the negative ('doesn't track') to indicate a logical inconsistency.

## Examples

- We followed a narrow track through the forest.
- The band's new album features a hidden track that starts after five minutes of silence.
- The athlete maintained a steady pace around the oval track, aware that the final lap would require a significant burst of speed to secure a podium finish.

---

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.