TRACE: Synonyms and Related Words. What is Another Word for TRACE?

Need another word that means the same as “trace”? Find 60 synonyms and 30 related words for “trace” in this overview.

The synonyms of “Trace” are: retrace, delineate, describe, draw, line, hound, hunt, follow, decipher, track down, find, discover, detect, unearth, uncover, turn up, hunt down, dig up, ferret out, run to ground, find the source of, find the origins of, find the roots of, follow to its source, source, copy, reproduce, go over, draw over, draw the lines of, ghost, touch, hint, suggestion, tint, shadow, tincture, vestige, tracing, sign, mark, indication, evidence, clue, trail, track, spoor, marks, tracks, prints, imprints, footprints, footmarks, footsteps, bit, spot, speck, suspicion, nuance, intimation

Trace as a Noun

Definitions of "Trace" as a noun

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “trace” as a noun can have the following definitions:

• A path or track.
• A suggestion of some quality.
• A barely discernible indication of something.
• The sum of the elements in the principal diagonal of a square matrix.
• A line or pattern displayed by an instrument to show the existence or nature of something which is being recorded or measured.
• A drawing created by superimposing a semitransparent sheet of paper on the original image and copying on it the lines of the original image.
• A just detectable amount.
• A visible mark (as a footprint) left by the passage of person or animal or vehicle.
• An indication that something has been present.
• Either of two lines that connect a horse's harness to a wagon or other vehicle or to a whiffletree.
• A line which represents the projection of a curve or surface on a plane or the intersection of a curve or surface with a plane.
• A very small quantity, especially one too small to be accurately measured.
• A physical change in the brain presumed to be caused by a process of learning or memory.
• A mark, object, or other indication of the existence or passing of something.
• A procedure to investigate the source of something, such as the place from which a telephone call was made.

Synonyms of "Trace" as a noun (30 Words)

bit	The cutting part of a drill usually pointed and threaded and is replaceable in a brace or bitstock or drill press. Working in a foreign country took quite a bit of getting used to.
clue	A word or words giving an indication as to what is to be inserted in a particular space in a crossword. Police officers are still searching for clues.
evidence	Signs or indications of something. There was no obvious evidence of a break in.
footmarks	A mark of a foot or shoe on a surface.
footprints	The area taken up by some object. The police made casts of the footprints in the soft earth outside the window.
footsteps	The sound of a step of someone walking. He heard footsteps on the porch.
ghost	An apparition of a dead person which is believed to appear or become manifest to the living, typically as a nebulous image. The building is haunted by the ghost of a monk.
hint	A slight indication. Handy hints on saving energy in your home.
imprints	An identification of a publisher; a publisher’s name along with the date and address and edition that is printed at the bottom of the title page. English stills bears the imprint of the Norman invasion.
indication	A datum about some physical state that is presented to a user by a meter or similar instrument. An indication of foul play.
intimation	An indirect suggestion. No one gave any intimation that there had been any problems.
mark	A marking that consists of lines that cross each other. He left an indelible mark on the American theater.
marks	A reference point to shoot at.
nuance	A subtle difference in meaning or opinion or attitude. Without understanding the finer nuances you can t enjoy the humor.
prints	A fabric with a dyed pattern pressed onto it (usually by engraved rollers. Paw prints were everywhere.
shadow	The slightest trace of something. He felt secure in his father s shadow.
sign	A gesture that is part of a sign language. Charges of opposite sign.
speck	(nontechnical usage) a tiny piece of anything. The plane was just a speck in the sky.
spoor	The trail left by a person or an animal; what the hunter follows in pursuing game. The hounds followed the fox s spoor.
spot	A blemish on someone’s character or reputation. A ten spot.
suggestion	Persuasion formulated as a suggestion. The power of suggestion.
suspicion	Cautious distrust. He tried to shield me from suspicion.
tincture	A quality of a given color that differs slightly from another color. A tincture of condescension.
tint	A dye for coloring the hair. A tint of glamour.
touch	An act of touching someone or something. Getting caught looks so incompetent as though we re losing our touch.
tracing	A copy of a drawing map or design made by tracing. The tracing of genealogies.
track	The act of participating in an athletic competition involving running on a track. In terms of social arrangements you are not too far off the track.
tracks	A bar or pair of parallel bars of rolled steel making the railway along which railroad cars or other vehicles can roll.
trail	A trailer for a film or broadcast. This steep trail is as firm as off piste spring snow.
vestige	The smallest amount. The last vestiges of colonialism.

Usage Examples of "Trace" as a noun

• Trace quantities of PCBs.
• We've got a trace on the call.
• His body contained traces of amphetamines.
• Just a trace of a smile.
• Remove all traces of the old adhesive.
• The aircraft disappeared without trace.
• There wasn't a trace of evidence for the claim.
• He speaks French with a trace of an accent.

Trace as a Verb

Definitions of "Trace" as a verb

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “trace” as a verb can have the following definitions:

• Draw (a pattern or line), especially with one's finger or toe.
• Take (a particular path or route.
• Make a mark or lines on a surface.
• Find or describe the origin or development of.
• Follow or mark the course or position of (something) with one's eye, mind, or finger.
• To go back over again.
• Follow, discover, or ascertain the course of development of something.
• Find or discover by investigation.
• Read with difficulty.
• Make one's course or travel along a path; travel or pass over, around, or along.
• Copy by following the lines of the original drawing on a transparent sheet placed upon it; make a tracing of.
• Copy (a drawing, map, or design) by drawing over its lines on a superimposed piece of transparent paper.
• Discover traces of.
• Give an outline of.
• Pursue or chase relentlessly.

Synonyms of "Trace" as a verb (30 Words)

copy	Send a copy of a letter or an email to a third party. I thought I d copy to you this letter sent to the PR representative.
decipher	Convert code into ordinary language. Visual signals help us decipher what is being communicated.
delineate	Determine the essential quality of. The law should delineate and prohibit behaviour which is socially abhorrent.
describe	Make a mark or lines on a surface. He described his experiences in a letter to his parents.
detect	Discern (something intangible or barely perceptible. Cancer may soon be detected in its earliest stages.
dig up	Remove the inner part or the core of.
discover	Make a discovery. The courage to discover the truth and possibly be disappointed.
draw	Obtain or withdraw money from a bank or other source. Draw parallels.
draw over	Stretch back a bowstring (on an archer’s bow.
draw the lines of	Make a mark or lines on a surface.
ferret out	Hound or harry relentlessly.
find	Make a discovery make a new finding. These aspects of civilization do not find expression or receive an interpretation.
find the origins of	Perceive oneself to be in a certain condition or place.
find the roots of	Come upon, as if by accident; meet with.
find the source of	Obtain through effort or management.
follow	Follow in or as if in pursuit. He follows Aristotle in believing this.
follow to its source	Follow, discover, or ascertain the course of development of something.
go over	Be the right size or shape; fit correctly or as desired.
hound	Harass, persecute, or pursue relentlessly. His opponents used the allegations to hound him out of office.
hunt	Use a hound or a horse for hunting. Goering often hunted wild boars in Poland.
hunt down	Chase away, with as with force.
line	Be in line with form a line along. A processional route lined by people waving flags.
reproduce	Produce something very similar to (something else) in a different medium or context. You ll be amazed to see how well half tones reproduce.
retrace	Reassemble mentally. I ve tried to retrace some of her movements.
run to ground	Cause an animal to move fast.
source	Obtain from a particular source. The writer carefully sourced her report.
track down	Observe or plot the moving path of something.
turn up	To break and turn over earth especially with a plow.
uncover	Remove a cover or covering from. He stopped short reverentially uncovered and stood bare headed till the line of mourners had passed.
unearth	Find (something) in the ground by digging. They have done all they can to unearth the truth.

Usage Examples of "Trace" as a verb

• Bob's book traces his flying career with the RAF.
• The children traced along the edge of the dark forest.
• The hunters traced the deer into the woods.
• She traced a pattern in the dirt with the toe of her shoe.
• Trace a pattern.
• Trace the student's progress.
• A tear traced a lonely path down her cheek.
• She traced the circumstances of her birth.
• Trace your path.
• Police are trying to trace a white van seen in the area.
• Trace the outline of a figure in the sand.
• Through the binoculars, I traced the path I had taken the night before.
• We retraced the route we took last summer.
• The article traces out some of the connections between education, qualifications, and the labour market.
• Trace a design.
• The women traced the pasture.
• Trace one's ancestry.
• Trace a map of the world on to a large piece of paper.
• The archeologist traced the hieroglyphs.

Associations of "Trace" (30 Words)

debris	The remains of something that has been destroyed or broken up. A stable arrangement of planets comets and debris orbiting the sun.
detritus	Gravel, sand, silt, or other material produced by erosion. The streets were foul with detritus.
dregs	The most worthless part or parts of something. Coffee dregs.
flotsam	The wreckage of a ship or its cargo found floating on or washed up by the sea. The room was cleared of boxes and other flotsam.
fossil	Characteristic of a fossil. He can be a cantankerous old fossil at times.
impurity	The condition of being impure. A struggle to rid the soul of sin and impurity.
left	The hand that is on the left side of the body. A left to the body.
leftover	Not used up. Leftover meatloaf.
nick	Make a nick or nicks in. Banks will be nicked for an extra 40 million.
pleistocene	From two million to 11 thousand years ago; extensive glaciation of the northern hemisphere; the time of human evolution.
remainder	Sell cheaply as remainders. 23 divided by 3 is 7 remainder 2.
remaining	Not yet used, dealt with, or resolved; outstanding. The few remaining employees are working part time.
remains	A person’s body after death. The remains of a sandwich lunch were on the table.
remnant	A surviving trace. The bogs are an endangered remnant of a primeval landscape.
residual	(of a quantity) left after other items have been subtracted. She has been awarded more than 4 5 million in residuals and profits from the highly successful television show.
residue	Matter that remains after something has been removed. The ash was a residue from coal fired power stations.
rest	An instance or period of resting. Her elbow was resting on the arm of the sofa.
riffraff	Disparaging terms for the common people.
rubble	Pieces of rough or undressed stone used in building walls, especially as filling for cavities. Two buildings collapsed trapping scores of people in the rubble.
scar	Mark with a scar or scars. His arm will not scar.
scavenge	Search for and collect (anything usable) from discarded waste. Chlorine molecules can scavenge ozone at a very fast rate.
seashell	The shell of a marine organism.
shadowy	Insubstantial; unreal. They were attacked by a swarm of shadowy ethereal forms.
stratigraphy	The structure of a particular set of strata. You can find materials at the surface which are samples from the deeper stratigraphy.
track	An endless metal belt on which tracked vehicles move over the ground. Extremely thin tracks are not able to withstand much heat when soldering.
trail	A trailer for a film or broadcast. The toddler was trailing his pants.
vestige	A trace or remnant of something that is disappearing or no longer exists. He waited patiently but without a vestige of sympathy.
vestigial	Forming a very small remnant of something that was once greater or more noticeable. The vestigial wings of kiwis are entirely hidden.
waste	Run off as waste. 20 of stock will need to be wasted.
wreckage	The remaining parts of something that has been wrecked. Firemen had to cut him free from the wreckage of the car.