All 16 Uses
trace
in
Unbroken, by Hillenbrand
(Edited)
- The last trace of Green Hornet, the shimmer of gas, hydraulic fluid, and oil that had wreathed the rafts since the crash, faded away.
p. 129.5trace = indication or sign
- A neat, sharp form, flat and shining, cut the surface and began tracing circles around the rafts.
p. 129.6tracing = moving in
- The crew had searched for Corpening's plane all day but had seen no trace of it.
p. 131.1trace = indication or sign
- As the castaways slumped in the rafts, trying to accept another lost chance, over the western horizon there was a glimmer, tracing a wide curve, then banking toward the rafts.
p. 153.6tracing = moving in
- Louie told the story as the Japanese listened in silent fascination, tracing the journey on a map.
p. 173.3 *tracing = following
- The only trace of the men was found years afterward.
p. 198.5trace = indication
- In any case it is the aim not to allow the escape of a single one, to annihilate them all, and not to leave any traces.
p. 199.4traces = indications of what had happened
- The three spent most of their outdoor time together, sitting on benches or tracing the edges of the compound, distracting one another from the tooth-chattering cold with mind exercises.
p. 209.9tracing = following the path of
- Many weeks passed, and the military's search yielded no trace of Louie, his crew, or his plane.
p. 212.7trace = indication or sign
- Metal dog tags were confiscated, in an apparent effort to comply with the stipulation that those executing POWs "not …. leave any traces."
p. 292.9 *traces = indications of what had happened
- On the morning of September 2, a B-29 known as Ghost Ship traced the long thread of beach marking the coast of western Japan.
p. 313.6traced = followed
- But Shizuka had felt a trace of doubt.
p. 368.3trace = tiny amount
- Then he focused on Jesus bending down, his finger tracing words in the sand at the Pharisees' feet, sending the men scattering in fear.
p. 373.1 *tracing = drawing
- His men searched for hours but found no trace of him.
p. 387.7trace = indication or sign
- Softly, he began to talk of his life with Pete, tracing the paths they had taken since pneumonia had brought them to California in 1919.
p. 389.5tracing = following
- There was no trace of them here among the voices, the falling snow, and the old and joyful man, running.
p. 398.8trace = indication or sign
Definitions:
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(1)
(trace as in: found a trace of) a small quantity; or any indication or evidence ofThe exact meaning of this sense of trace depends upon its context. For example:
- a small indication that something was present -- as in "The plane disappeared somewhere over the Pacific Ocean without leaving a trace."
- a very small amount of something -- as in "The blood test showed a trace of steroids."
- any evidence of something -- as in "We did not find a trace of the gene."
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(2)
(trace as in: trace the origin or development) to find, search, research, or keep track ofThis sense of trace usually has to do with information. It's specific meaning depends on its context. For example:
to find or search for something through investigation -- often the origin of something:
- "The police traced the call." -- found out where it originated
- "We are tracing the lost luggage" -- searching for
- "Can you trace the problem to its source?" -- find through investigation
- "She traced her family history to discover that her great-grandmother came to the United States from Lithuania when the Nazis occupied it." -- discovered something through investigation
to research or report on the development of something
- "She traced the history of the automobile in her paper." -- researched the development of something
- "Her presentation traced recent progress in alternative energy solutions." -- reported on
to monitor or keep track of the progress or development of something
- "She traces the progress of at-risk students." -- monitors information
- "I used binoculars to trace her progress up the mountain." -- monitor, follow, or track
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(3)
(trace as in: trace a picture or outline) copy the lines of an image; or draw an outline; or carefully draw a specific patternThis sense of trace has to do with drawing, but it's specific meaning depends on its context. For example:
copying the outline of an image
- "She used tracing paper to make a copy." -- paper you can see through, so that when it is placed on a picture, you can use a pencil to follow the lines of the image being copied
- "She projected the image onto the wall, hung a sheet of paper there, and traced the projected image onto the paper." -- followed the lines with her pencil
draw an outline or a specific pattern
- "She used her toe to trace half the fish symbol in the sand." -- draw a simple outline
- "The child used a stick to trace circles and swirls in the mud." -- draw
- "She used her finger to trace his name in the sand." -- draw
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(4)
(trace as in: traced a path) to followThe exact meaning of this sense of trace depends upon its context. For example:
- "The hunters traced the deer into the woods." -- followed or tracked
- "With soft kisses, she gently traced the scar running down his cheek." -- followed
- "The path traces along the edge of the forest." -- follows
- "A single tear traced its way down her cheek." -- followed a specific path
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(5)
(meaning too rare to warrant focus) See a comprehensive dictionary for specialized meanings of trace in mathematics, medicine, engineering and other areas.