tracer
Tracer (noun) means a substance, such as a radioactive isotope or dye, used to track how something moves or changes through a system. Example: “Doctors injected a radioactive tracer to follow blood flow through the heart.”
How to use tracer
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomething used to track a path — either a marked substance followed through a body or system, or a glowing round of ammunition.
Word forms
tracers plural
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Doctors injected a radioactive _____ to follow blood flow through the heart.
Etymology
From trace + -er.
Synonyms
View more →Rhymes for tracer
See all rhymes for tracer →Frequently asked questions
What does “tracer” mean?
The word “tracer” means a substance, such as a radioactive isotope or dye, used to track how something moves or changes through a system. In plain terms, something used to track a path — either a marked substance followed through a body or system, or a glowing round of ammunition.
How do you pronounce “tracer”?
“Tracer” is pronounced TRAY-suh (/ˈtɹeɪsɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “tracer” in a sentence?
Here is “tracer” used in a sentence: “Doctors injected a radioactive tracer to follow blood flow through the heart.”
What part of speech is “tracer”?
“Tracer” is a noun.
How many meanings does “tracer” have?
“Tracer” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a substance, such as a radioactive isotope or dye, used to track how something moves or changes through a system.