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Added 7 October 2026

trace

/tɹeɪs/ noun

In Latin: vestīgium Wiktionary

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about trace at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

A just detectable amount.
he speaks French with a trace of an accent
An indication that something has been present.
there wasn't a trace of evidence for the claim
A suggestion of some quality.
there was a touch of sarcasm in his tone

verb

Follow, discover, or ascertain the course of development of something.
We must follow closely the economic development is Cuba
Make a mark or lines on a surface.
draw a line
To go back over again.
we retraced the route we took last summer

Origin

From Middle English trace, traas, from Old French trace (“an outline, track, trace”), from the verb (see below).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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