1 [+ obj] a : to draw the outline of (something)
▪ The children traced their hands onto the sidewalk with chalk. ; especially : to copy (a design or picture) by putting a thin piece of paper that you can see through over it and drawing on top of it
▪ You can put a piece of paper over the pattern and trace it.
b : to draw (something, such as letters or a picture) especially in a careful way
▪ She traced the letters of her name. ▪ I traced a circle in the air/sand (with my finger). — often + out ▪ She traced the letters out on a sheet of paper. 2 [+ obj] : to follow the path or line of (something)
▪ We will need to trace the electrical wires through the walls. ▪ She traced the edge of the book with her finger. [=she moved her finger along the edge of the book] 3 : to follow (something) back to its cause, beginning, or origin : to find out where something came from [+ obj] — usually + to ▪ The noise was traced to a loose bolt in the car's engine. ▪ The police traced the call to a payphone. — often + back ▪ He can trace his family history all the way back to the Pilgrims. ▪ The word “amiable” can be traced back to the Latin word for “friend.” [no obj] ▪ The word “amiable” traces back to the Latin word for “friend.” ▪ a tradition that traces back to [=goes back to] the time of the ancient Romans 4 [+ obj] : to describe or study the way (something) happened over time
▪ Her book traces the development of art through the ages. 5 [+ obj] : to try to find (someone or something) by collecting and studying evidence
▪ The detective is in charge of tracing [=(more commonly) tracking down] missing persons.