trace
in
When the Emperor Was Divine
(Edited)

The 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."

This 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

This 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

The 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