trace

Type: verb, noun

Definitions: (verb) If you trace a line, you draw it. (verb) If you trace something, you follow information to find where it came from or where it went. (noun) A trace is a path that tells you where something came from. (noun) A trace of something is a very small amount, almost too small to find.

Examples: (verb) He traced a line in the sand. (verb) The disease has been traced back to some bad eggs. (verb) The police soon traced the couple’s movements and found they had made a number of telephone calls to Paris. (noun) The detective was able to follow the trace of footprints the thief left behind. (noun) We’ve found traces of an earlier painting underneath this one.

Synonyms: nouns: element, hint. path. verbs: seek, follow, detect. sketch, copy, outline.

Academic Word List Sublist and Group: 6 C