tracker
- 01 B1 Intermediate
a device or software that records your activity, location, or health data.
an electronic device or software application designed to monitor and record data over time, such as GPS coordinates or physiological metrics.
Simple“I wear a fitness tracker on my wrist to count how many steps I take each day.”
In context“The logistics company installed a GPS tracker on every vehicle in the fleet to provide customers with real-time delivery updates.”
UsageOften used in compound nouns like 'fitness tracker' or 'sleep tracker'.
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
a person who is skilled at following the marks or signs left by people or animals.
an individual skilled in the art of tracking, typically following physical signs such as footprints or disturbed vegetation to locate a target.
Simple“The expert tracker was able to find the lost hikers by looking at broken branches.”
In context“The documentary followed a local tracker who could identify the age and health of a lion just by examining its paw prints in the sand.”
- 03 C1 Advanced
a small piece of code on a website that follows what you do online.
a script or cookie used by websites to collect data about a user's browsing habits, often for advertising or analytical purposes.
Simple“Many modern web browsers now block trackers to protect your privacy.”
In context“Privacy advocates warn that invisible third-party trackers can build a detailed profile of your interests without your explicit consent.”
Synonymsweb bugtracking cookie - 04 C1 Advanced
a type of loan or mortgage where the interest rate changes based on a central bank's rate.
a financial product, particularly a mortgage, with an interest rate that is pegged to a publicly tracked index, such as a central bank's base rate.
Simple“They chose a tracker mortgage because they expected interest rates to stay low.”
In context“Borrowers on a tracker mortgage saw their monthly payments increase immediately following the central bank's decision to raise the base rate.”
Teacher's tipThis sense is very common in the UK and Ireland; American English speakers usually refer to these as 'adjustable-rate' products.
Synonymsvariable rate mortgageAntonymsfixed rate mortgage - 05 C2 Proficiency
a type of music software where notes are placed on a vertical timeline.
a class of music sequencer software that allows the user to arrange notes and samples on a vertical timeline across several channels.
Simple“He composed the entire soundtrack using an old-school tracker on his laptop.”
In context“While modern digital audio workstations are more popular, some electronic musicians still prefer the rigid, mathematical workflow of a tracker.”
Synonymssequencer
“A tracker must be light enough to not weigh down a bird that weighs only as much as a spoonful of sugar.”
“The same tracker showed the plane leaving Moscow this afternoon.”
From track + -er.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.