noun

trace

trays

noun

A small mark, sign, or amount left behind that shows something existed or happened.

"Investigators found traces of blood at the scene."

"The old road had almost vanished, leaving only a trace through the grass."

A very small quantity of something.

"The soup had just a trace of chilli."

verb

To find the origin or path of something by following evidence.

"Detectives traced the call to an address downtown."

"She traced her family history back to a small village in Ireland."

To copy a drawing by following its lines through thin, see-through paper.

"The kids traced the outline of the map for their project."

How to Use Trace

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA tiny leftover sign of something, or the act of tracking something down (or copying a drawing).

Common mistake

Don't confuse the verb "to trace" (find the source of) with "to track" (follow ongoing movement) — they overlap but "trace" leans toward looking backward to an origin.

Common pairings

trace of trace back to without a trace trace a call

Word Forms

more trace comparative, traced past tense, traces plural, traces singular, most trace superlative, tracest superlative

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Can you complete this real example?

Investigators found _____ of blood at the scene.

Etymology

From Old French trace ("track, outline"), from the verb tracier, meaning to follow a path.

Rhymes for trace

ace face race pace mace lace Jace peace space grace place brace

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