Trace Means Both a Tiny Amount and a Full Copy
A trace is a mark left behind. The word covers the faintest hint and the act of copying a whole outline.
A trace is a mark or sign left by something, and to trace is to follow or copy an outline. The word manages opposite scales without confusion: a *trace element* is present in the smallest measurable quantity, while to *trace* a drawing is to copy every line of it. Both come from following a path — Latin *tractus*, a drawing out, from *trahere*, to pull. That verb also gives *tractor*, *attract*, *contract* and *subtract*.
- A mark left behind. *No trace remained.*
- A tiny amount. *Trace elements.*
- To copy an outline. *Trace the drawing.*
- To follow. *Trace the route.*
- Latin — *trahere*, to pull. *The source.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | trace | A trace. |
| Plural | traces | Traces. |
| Verb | trace | Trace it. |
| Adjective | traceable | Traceable. |
| Latin | trahere | To pull. |
- There was no trace of him.Sign.
- Trace elements are vital in tiny doses.Chemistry.
- She traced the map onto paper.Copying.
The trahere family
- Trace — a drawn-out mark or path
- Tractor — something that pulls
- Attract — to draw toward
- Contract — to draw together
- Subtract — to draw away from beneath
Old French *trace*, a track or path, from Latin *tractus*, a drawing out, from *trahere*, to pull or draw.
What is a trace element?
A chemical element present in very small quantity but still essential, such as iron, zinc or iodine in the human diet.
Are trace and tractor related?
Yes. Both come from Latin trahere, to pull, one through the sense of a drawn path and the other of a pulling machine.