Trace (Verb)
Meaning 1
Make a mark or lines on a surface; "draw a line"; "trace the outline of a figure in the sand".
Classification
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging.
Examples
- She carefully began to trace the intricate patterns on the ancient vase with a pencil.
- Using a ruler, he carefully traced the lines of the map onto a blank sheet of paper.
- Using a stick, the child began to trace her name in the sand at the beach.
- The detective used a specialized tool to carefully trace the fingerprints found at the crime scene.
- She started to trace the delicate details of the flower onto the watercolor paper in preparation for painting.
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Meaning 2
To go back over again; "we retraced the route we took last summer"; "trace your path".
Classification
Verbs of walking, flying, swimming.
Synonyms
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Meaning 3
Follow, discover, or ascertain the course of development of something; "We must follow closely the economic development is Cuba"; "trace the student's progress"; "trace one's ancestry".
Classification
Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting.
Synonyms
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Meaning 4
Pursue or chase relentlessly; "The hunters traced the deer into the woods"; "the detectives hounded the suspect until they found him".
Classification
Verbs of walking, flying, swimming.
Synonyms
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Meaning 5
Copy by following the lines of the original drawing on a transparent sheet placed upon it; make a tracing of; "trace a design"; "trace a pattern".
Classification
Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing.
Hypernyms
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Meaning 6
Make one's course or travel along a path; travel or pass over, around, or along; "The children traced along the edge of the dark forest"; "The women traced the pasture".
Classification
Verbs of walking, flying, swimming.
Hypernyms
Meaning 7
Discover traces of; "She traced the circumstances of her birth".
Classification
Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling.
Examples
- Scientists discovered traces of ancient water on the distant planet after conducting extensive research.
- The team of archaeologists carefully excavated the site, hoping to trace the origins of the mysterious artifact.
- Researchers traced the genetic anomaly back to a rare inherited condition.
- By studying historical records, the historian managed to trace the events leading up to the infamous war.
- She spent years tracing her family tree and discovered some surprising connections to European royalty.