trace

«trace» in Mova's school dictionary: to copy it by drawing over its lines through thin paper — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples, with 5 sentences of Mova's corpora that use it.

part of speech

verb (trace, traces, traced, tracing); noun (a trace, traces)

meaning for a pupil

1) To trace a picture is to copy it by drawing over its lines through thin paper. tree →

2) To trace something is to find where it came from or where it went by following signs. tree →

3) A trace is a very small amount or mark left behind. tree →

4) To trace a line or shape is to draw it or follow it with your finger. tree →

sense in the lessons

In art and handwriting lessons pupils trace letters and shapes. In science a trace of something is a tiny amount (trace elements, trace of blood). In stories detectives trace a phone call, a person or a clue; someone may vanish «without a trace». Phrases: trace back, trace over, trace paper, without a trace, keep track (not «keep trace»).

examples

• Trace the map onto the thin paper. tree →
• Little children trace the dotted letters to learn to write. tree →
• The police traced the stolen bike to a shop in town. tree →
• The boat disappeared without a trace. tree →
• There was a trace of chocolate on his chin. tree →
• Trace the path through the maze with your finger. tree →
• We traced our family back to Ireland. tree →
• The water had a trace of salt in it. tree →
• Not a trace of him was to be found! tree →

note

Verb is regular (traced). Noun is countable (a trace, traces). «A trace of» means a very small amount, not none. Do not confuse with «track» (a path or footprints) — you «keep track», not «keep trace». Tracing a picture is copying; in a test of your own drawing it is not your own work.

In the corpora

• An art teacher wants to see your own drawing, wobbly lines and all, not a traced copy.
• Trackways show some sauropods walked in groups, with young ones in the middle; footprints are trace fossils that show behaviour.
• The rule of the outdoors is «Leave no trace»: leave a place as you found it, or better.
• Many schools are nut-free, because tiny traces of nut can harm a child with a severe allergy.
• Real businesses never ask to be paid with gift cards; scammers like them because they cannot be traced or refunded.

Trees and pragmatics

Every meaning and example of «trace» parsed by Mova, each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.