trace
1 of 2verb/treɪs/
Forms:traces,tracing,traced,traced
1
to find someone or something, often by following a series of clues or evidence
transitive- The detectives traced the stolen artwork to an underground art market.
- The archaeologist frequently traces ancient civilizations through the study of artifacts.
- They recently traced the hacker's IP address to a foreign country.
- Can you please trace the phone number to identify the caller?
- The investigators recently traced the counterfeit money to a local printing shop.
Synonyms:
2
to carefully copy or reproduce a design or image by following its lines or contours onto another surface, typically using transparent sheet
transitive- She traced the drawing onto a new piece of paper using a pencil.
- She used a transparent sheet to trace the design for her project.
- The student traced the shapes to practice drawing more accurately.
- He traced the outline of the map to create a new version.
- She traced the contours of the landscape to add detail to her artwork.
3
to find someone or something by searching for them
transitive- The detective traced the missing person after weeks of searching.
- After a long search, he traced his childhood friend online.
- The detective traced the criminal across the city.
- He traced his lost luggage through the airport system.
- She traced the lost keys all around the house.
4
to draw a line or pattern using your finger or toe
transitive- She traced a heart on the foggy window with her finger.
- He traced the shape of the letter with his toe in the sand.
- He traced a pattern in the dust while waiting.
- He playfully traced patterns on her back with his finger.
- He traced a zigzag pattern across the surface.
5
to follow a specific path or route
transitive- The hikers traced the mountain trail to the summit.
- We decided to trace the old road through the forest.
- They traced the river’s course to find the source.
- She traced the path of the comet across the night sky.
- The archaeologists traced the ancient trade routes across the desert.
6
to research or follow the history or development of something
transitive- The historian traced the origins of the ancient civilization.
- She traced the development of the technology over the last century.
- They traced the family’s ancestry back to the 1600s.
- He traced the evolution of the language through old manuscripts.
- The researcher traced the history of the company from its founding.