trace

verb

1. 查出；找到；发现；追踪
   to find or discover sb/sth by looking carefully for them/it
   1. We finally traced him to an address in Chicago.
      我们终于追查到他在芝加哥的一个地址。
2. 追溯；追究
   to find the origin or cause of sth
   1. She could trace her family tree back to the 16th century.
      她能把本族家谱追溯到16世纪。
   2. The leak was eventually traced to a broken seal.
      最后查出泄漏是由于密封处破裂所致。
   3. The police traced the call (= used special electronic equipment to find out who made the telephone call) to her ex-husband's number.
      警方用追踪装置查出是她前夫的电话号码打出的电话。
3. 描绘（事物的过程或发展）；追述；记述
   to describe a process or the development of sth
   1. Her book traces the town's history from Saxon times to the present day.
      她的书描述的是这个市镇从撒克逊时代到现在的历史。
4. 画（线）
   to draw a line or lines on a surface
   1. She traced a line in the sand.
      她在沙地上画了一条线。
5. 绘出，勾画出（轮廓）
   to follow the shape or outline of sth
   1. He traced the route on the map.
      他在地图上勾画出了路线。
   2. A tear traced a path down her cheek.
      一滴眼泪沿着她的面颊流了下来。
6. （用透明纸覆盖在地图、绘画等上）复制，描摹
   to copy a map, drawing, etc. by drawing on transparent paper (= tracing paper ) placed over it

noun

1. 痕迹；遗迹；踪迹
   a mark, an object or a sign that shows that sb/sth existed or was present
   1. It's exciting to discover traces of earlier civilizations.
      发现以前文明的遗迹，真令人兴奋。
   2. Police searched the area but found no trace of the escaped prisoners.
      警方搜索了那一地区，但未发现越狱逃犯的任何踪迹。
   3. Years of living in England had eliminated all trace of her American accent.
      她因多年居住在英国，美国口音已荡然无存。
   4. The ship had vanished without (a) trace .
      那艘船消失得无影无踪。
2. 微量；少许
   a very small amount of sth
   1. The post-mortem revealed traces of poison in his stomach.
      验尸发现他胃中有微量毒物。
   2. She spoke without a trace of bitterness.
      她说话时一点儿也不伤感。
3. 描记图；轨迹；迹线；扫描线
   a line or pattern on paper or a screen that shows information that is found by a machine
   1. The trace showed a normal heart rhythm.
      描记图表明心率正常。
4. 挽绳；套绳
   one of the two long pieces of leather that fasten a carriage or cart to the horse that pulls it

1. VERB 追溯;查考;探索
   If you trace the origin or development of something, you find out or describe how it started or developed.
   1. The exhibition traces the history of graphic design in America from the 19th century to the present...
      展览追溯了美国从19世纪至今的平面设计历史。
   2. I first went there to trace my roots, visiting my mum's home island of Jamaica…
      我最初到那里是为了寻根，探访我妈妈的故乡牙买加岛。
   3. The psychiatrist successfully traced some of her problems to severe childhood traumas.
      这位精神病学家将她的一些问题成功地追溯到她童年时代遭受的严重创伤。
   4. Trace back means the same as trace.
      trace back 同 trace
   5. Britain's Parliament can trace its history back to the English Parliament of the 13th century...
      英国议会的历史可以追溯到 13 世纪的英格兰议会。
   6. She has never traced back her lineage, but believes her grandparents were from Aberdeenshire.
      她从没有查考过自己的家系，不过她认为她祖父母来自阿伯丁郡。
2. VERB 查出;探出;找到
   If you trace someone or something, you find them after looking for them.
   1. Police are anxious to trace two men seen leaving the house just before 8am...
      早上将近8点时有人看到两名男子离开那所房子，警方急于找到他们。
   2. We are currently trying to trace the whereabouts of certain sums of money…
      我们目前正试图找到某些钱款的下落。
   3. They traced the van to a New Jersey car rental agency.
      他们查出面包车属于新泽西州的一家租车行。
3. VERB (用手指或脚尖等在表面上)勾画…的轮廓，描绘，勾勒
   If you trace something such as a pattern or a shape, for example with your finger or toe, you mark its outline on a surface.
   1. I traced the course of the river on the map.
      我在地图上勾勒出这条河的流向。
4. VERB (把透明纸覆盖在底样上)映描，描摹
   If you trace a picture, you copy it by covering it with a piece of transparent paper and drawing over the lines underneath.
   1. She learned to draw by tracing pictures out of old storybooks.
      她通过描摹旧故事书上的图画学会了画画。
5. N-COUNT 少许;微量
   A trace of something is a very small amount of it.
   1. Wash them in cold water to remove all traces of sand...
      用冷水冲洗它们以清除所有的沙子。
   2. He took great pains to write on his subject without a trace of sensationalism.
      他尽力不带一丝哗众取宠的色彩来写作他的题材。
6. N-COUNT 痕迹;遗迹;踪迹;足迹
   A trace is a sign which shows you that someone or something has been in a place.
   1. The local church has traces of fifteenth-century frescoes…
      当地教堂仍留有 15 世纪壁画的遗迹。
   2. There's been no trace of my aunt and uncle...
      没有我姑姑、姑夫的踪迹。
   3. Finally, and mysteriously, Hoffa disappeared without trace.
      最后，霍法毫无踪迹地神秘消失了。
7. PHRASE 销声匿迹;迅速沉寂
   If you say that someone or something sinks without trace or sinks without a trace, you mean that they stop existing or stop being successful very suddenly and completely.
   1. The Social Democratic Party has sunk without trace at these elections...
      社会民主党在这些选举中已销声匿迹。
   2. Pop groups are like Olympic swimmers — they hit gold once, then they sink without trace.
      流行乐队就像奥林匹克游泳选手——拿到一次金牌后就无声无息了。

1. He could trace his ancestors back seven hundred years.
   他的先祖可以上溯到700年前。
2. Now draw or trace ten dinosaurs in ascending order of size.
   现在按照体型由小到大的顺序画出或是临摹出10只恐龙。
3. Only people who can trace their family history in Kuwait back before 1920 are entitled to citizenship.
   只有其在科威特的家族史可以追溯到1920年以前的人才能获国籍。
4. Despite a thorough investigation, no trace of Dr Southwell has been found
   尽管进行了彻底的调查，还是没有发现索思韦尔博士的任何踪迹。
5. The newspaper contacted his grandmother to trace his present address, and later doorstepped him at his home.
   报纸联系了他祖母，查到了他现在的住址后便前往登门采访。
6. They have spent ages looking at the map and can't find a trace of anywhere called Darrowby
   他们对着地图细看了许久也没能找到那个叫达罗比的地方的影踪。
7. Brand's keen ear caught the trace of an accent.
   布兰德敏锐的耳朵听出了口音。
8. They can trace their lineage directly back to the 18th century.
   他们的世系可以直接追溯到18世纪。
9. In order for their computers to trace a person's records, they need both the name and address of the individual.
   在他们的电脑上查询个人记录，需要提供被查询人的姓名和地址。
10. Throughout, he showed no trace of self-pity.
    他从始至终都没有表现出一丝的自怜。
11. Trace around your template and transfer the design onto a sheet of card.
    沿着你的样板边画一圈，把图案描在一张硬纸板上。
12. Staff will be able to trace calls at the touch of a button.
    工作人员一摁按钮便可以追踪电话。
13. The exhibition traces the history of graphic design in America from the 19th century to the present
    展览追溯了美国从19世纪至今的平面设计历史。
14. I first went there to trace my roots, visiting my mum's home island of Jamaica
    我最初到那里是为了寻根，探访我妈妈的故乡牙买加岛。
15. The psychiatrist successfully traced some of her problems to severe childhood traumas.
    这位精神病学家将她的一些问题成功地追溯到她童年时代遭受的严重创伤。
16. Police are anxious to trace two men seen leaving the house just before 8am
    早上将近8点时有人看到两名男子离开那所房子，警方急于找到他们。
17. We are currently trying to trace the whereabouts of certain sums of money
    我们目前正试图找到某些钱款的下落。
18. They traced the van to a New Jersey car rental agency.
    他们查出面包车属于新泽西州的一家租车行。
19. I traced the course of the river on the map.
    我在地图上勾勒出这条河的流向。
20. She learned to draw by tracing pictures out of old storybooks.
    她通过描摹旧故事书上的图画学会了画画。
21. Wash them in cold water to remove all traces of sand
    用冷水冲洗它们以清除所有的沙子。
22. He took great pains to write on his subject without a trace of sensationalism.
    他尽力不带一丝哗众取宠的色彩来写作他的题材。
23. There's been no trace of my aunt and uncle
    没有我姑姑、姑夫的踪迹。
24. Finally, and mysteriously, Hoffa disappeared without trace.
    最后，霍法毫无踪迹地神秘消失了。
25. The Social Democratic Party has sunk without trace at these elections
    社会民主党在这些选举中已销声匿迹。
26. Pop groups are like Olympic swimmers — they hit gold once, then they sink without trace.
    流行乐队就像奥林匹克游泳选手——拿到一次金牌后就无声无息了。
27. His face was unmoved, but on his lips there was a trace of displeasure.
    他脸上没有丝毫表情，但嘴角流露出一丝不悦。
28. The aircraft vanished without trace
    飞机消失得无影无踪。
29. He can find no trace of a rule requiring research to be vetted before publication
    他找不到任何要求研究成果在发表前需经审查的规定。

  trace clue sign【导航词义：迹象】

  trace n. 痕迹，踪迹

〔辨析〕指某人、某物曾经出现或存在过的迹象。

  clue n. 线索

〔辨析〕指帮助弄清事情缘由或帮助破案、解开谜团的线索。

  sign n. 征兆，迹象

〔辨析〕指某事属实、即将发生或存在着的迹象。

n.

kick over the traces

• （开始）不听话，不守规矩，不受管束
  to start to behave badly and refuse to accept any discipline or control