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Trace: Follow Trails & Detect Minute Amounts (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：follow the trail (trace)

trace 🔊

/treɪs/

vt.

To follow the path, signs, or evidence that someone or something left behind, in order to find them or understand what happened.

Trace meaning follow trail detective map illustration

follow the trail 🔊

➕

/ˈfɒloʊ ðə treɪl/

vt.

To follow the path, signs, or evidence that someone or something left behind, in order to find them or understand what happened.

📁 Category：Culture & History 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

Latin 'tractus' (draw, pull) → Old French 'tracier' → English 'trace'.

💡 Mnemonic

Trace: Trail + Race — follow the trail in a race to find the end.

📖 Example

The archaeologist tried to trace the ancient road through satellite images. 🔊 The archaeologist tried to trace the ancient road through satellite images.

🔗 Collocations

trace the source – to find where something comes from

trace back – to find the origin of something by going back in time

trace a route – to draw or follow a path on a map

🔄 Synonyms

track (v.) – to follow the movements or path of someone or something

follow (v.) – to go after someone or something in order to catch them or see where they go

pursue (v.) – to follow someone or something with the intention of catching or reaching them

🚫 Antonyms

ignore (v.) – to pay no attention to signs or evidence

overlook (v.) – to fail to notice or follow something

miss (v.) – to fail to detect or follow a trail

🌱 Derivatives

traceable (adj.) – able to be found or followed

tracer (n.) – a person or thing that traces or follows

tracing (n.) – the act of following or copying a pattern

📖 Cultural Story

From Old French 'tracier' (to follow), derived from Latin 'tractus' (to pull, draw). Originally meant following footprints; now also used for detecting minute quantities.

Meaning 2：detect minute amounts (trace)

trace 🔊

/treɪs/

vt.

To find or discover a very small amount of something, usually after careful testing or analysis.

Trace meaning detect tiny amount lab experiment

detect minute amounts 🔊

➕

/dɪˈtɛkt maɪˈnjuːt əˈmaʊnts/

vt.

To find or discover a very small amount of something, usually after careful testing or analysis.

📁 Category：Diet & Health 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

The new machine can trace even the smallest amounts of nuts in food, making it safer for people with allergies. 🔊 The new machine can trace even the smallest amounts of nuts in food, making it safer for people with allergies.

🔗 Collocations

trace element – a chemical element present in very small amounts

trace amount – an extremely small quantity

trace evidence – tiny fragments of material used in forensic analysis

🔄 Synonyms

detect (v.) – to notice or discover something, especially something that is not easy to see

discern (v.) – to recognize or identify a small amount or difference

identify (v.) – to recognize the presence of a particular substance or element

🚫 Antonyms

miss (v.) – to fail to detect a small amount

overlook (v.) – to fail to notice a negligible quantity

🌱 Derivatives

traceable (adj.) – able to be found or followed

tracer (n.) – a person or thing that traces or follows

tracing (n.) – the act of following or copying a pattern