1471
trade
longer know where she is) | They have disappeared without (a) trace in the jungle. 2 [C] a very small amount of something: They found traces of poison in the dead man's blood.
trace³ n either of the ropes, chains, or lengths of leather by which a cart, carriage etc, is fastened to an animal that is pulling it → see also kick over the traces (KICK)
trace element n tech a simple chemical substance that is necessary for healthy growth and development, found in plants and animals in very small quantities
trac·er /'treɪsər/ n a bullet that leaves a line of smoke or flame behind it so that its course can be seen
trac·ery /'treɪsəri/ n [U] decorative patterns with branching and crossing lines, as in the upper parts of many church windows
Tra·cey, Stan /'treɪsi, stæn/ (1926-) a British JAZZ musician who plays piano, is a band leader, and writes music
tra·che·a /trə'kiːə||'treɪkiə/ n med for WINDPIPE
tra·cho·ma /trə'kəʊmə/ n [U] tech a painful illness that attacks the transparent covering over the eye and the inner surface of the eyelids
trac·ing /'treɪsɪŋ/ n a copy of a map, drawing etc, made by tracing (TRACE)
tracing paper n [U] strong transparent paper used for tracing (TRACE)
track¹ /træk/ n 1 also tracks pl. a line or set of marks left by a person, animal, vehicle etc, that has passed before: The dog followed the fox's tracks into the woods. | tyre tracks in the mud | He's escaped from prison, but the police are on his track. (=following him, especially by looking for his tracks) | (fig.) A good spy must know how to cover his tracks well. (=keep his movements or activities secret) → see also TRAIL 2 a narrow path or road, especially a rough one: a cycle track | a mountain track → see WAY (USAGE) 3 also tracks pl. — a railway line 4 AmE a) (a) sport that involves COMPETITIVE running b) (a) sport that involves both running and/or jumping (both TRACK EVENTS and FIELD EVENTS): Carl Lewis is a famous track star. | She went out for track in the spring (=she joined the school's track team). 5 the course or line taken by something as it moves or travels: These new weather satellites can follow the track of storms. | (fig.) That's one approach to the problem, I suppose, but personally I think you're on the wrong track. (=are mistaken) 6 a course specially prepared for racing: a racetrack 7 an endless belt used over the wheels of some very heavy vehicles to make movement over rough ground easier: tank tracks 8 any of the pieces of music on an LP or TAPE: I like the last track on this side. 9 any of the bands on which material can be recorded on a TAPE 10 in one's tracks infml where one is at that moment; suddenly: The criminal stopped dead in his tracks when the door opened behind him. 11 keep/lose track (of) to keep/fail to keep oneself informed about a person, situation etc: It's difficult to keep track of all the new ideas and developments in education. | I lose all track of time when I listen to this music. 12 make tracks infml to leave, especially in a hurry 13 off the track AmE infml not a part of the subject or purpose being dealt with: We must not get off the track, we are discussing the budget now, not the sales figures. → see also ONE-TRACK MIND, off the beaten track (BEATEN), on the wrong side of the tracks (WRONG) 14 be on the right track → LINES, RIGHT also be on the right lines BrE a) used in order to say that someone is behaving or working in a way that is likely to have the good result that they want: We won't go any further with the project until we've had the results of the survey - we want to make sure we're on the right track. | If you're eating plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, you're on the right track to a healthy diet. | Women Only magazine believed that it was proceeding along the right lines in publishing pictures of naked men. b) used in order to say that someone's answer to a question or problem is probably right or almost right: If we're on the right track and Dora did take the money, shouldn't we tell the police? | 'Do you know what a graphologist is?' 'Someone who's good at writing?' 'No, but you're on the right lines - it's someone who analyses handwriting.' → opposite be on the wrong track: Three out of four voters say the country is on the wrong track.
track² v 1 [T(to)] to follow the track of (an animal, plane, ship, person etc): They tracked the wolf to its lair/criminal to his hiding-place. | a space tracking station/system (=for following the course of spacecraft) 2 [I] tech (of a moving part of a recording machine) to be in the correct position or ALIGNMENT; follow the correct course: Adjust the tracking control. 3 [I(+adv/prep)] (of a television or film camera) to move round while taking a distant picture: a tracking shot 4 [T] AmE to leave tracks (marks of feet): The boy tracked mud all over the newly washed kitchen floor. 5 AmE for STREAM →er n: Police tracker dogs are searching for the missing child.
track sbdy./sthg. ⇔ down phr v [T] to find by searching or following tracks: We tracked down the animal by following the trail of bloodstains which it had left. | (fig.) I finally tracked down the sort of ribbon I needed in a little shop near the station.
track and 'field n [U] AmE ATHLETICS
'tracker fund n tech a system for investing (INVEST) money in company SHARES on a country's Stock Exchange. The tracker fund buys shares in all the main companies, so that its value goes up or goes down at the same rate as the Stock Exchange INDEX (such as the Dow Jones Index or the FT-100 Index).
'track event n a COMPETITIVE sports event that is a running race → compare FIELD EVENT
'tracking station n a station from which objects especially SATELLITES and SPACESHIPS can be recognized and followed through space
track·lay·er /'trækˌleɪər/ n AmE for PLATELAYER
track·less /'trækləs/ adj lit without paths, roads etc: a trackless forest
'track meet n AmE a sports competition consisting of TRACK EVENTS and FIELD EVENTS held at one place
'track record n the degree to which someone or something has performed well or badly up to now: The company has a good track record in the export trade.
track·suit /'træksuːt, -sjʊːt||-'suːt/ n a warm loose-fitting suit worn by sportsmen or sportswomen when training but usually not when playing, racing etc → -ed adj: tracksuited runners
tract¹ /trækt/ n fml a short piece of writing, especially one dealing with a religious or moral subject
tract² n 1 [(of)] a wide stretch of land: vast tracts of desert in Australia 2 med a system of related organs in an animal, with one particular purpose: the digestive tract
trac·ta·ble /'træktəbəl/ adj fml or tech easily controlled, worked, or persuaded → opposite INTRACTABLE —tability /ˌtræktə'bɪləti/ n [U]
trac·tion /'trækʃən/ n [U] especially tech 1 the act of drawing or pulling a heavy load over a surface 2 the form or type of power used for this: steam traction 3 the force that prevents a wheel from slipping over the surface on which it runs: Wet or muddy surfaces can cause a loss of traction. 4 the process of being pulled by a special medical apparatus in order to cure a broken bone or similar INJURY: Her leg's in traction.
'traction engine n a large vehicle, usually worked by steam power, used for pulling heavy loads along roads
trac·tor /'træktər/ n a powerful motor vehicle with large wheels and thick tyres used for pulling farm machinery (PLOUGHS, DRILLS etc) or other heavy objects
Tra·cy, Spen·cer /'treɪsi, 'spensər/ (1900-67) a US film actor known especially for appearing as characters who were honest and had high moral principles. He often worked with Katharine HEPBURN, with whom he had a romantic relationship for many years. His films include Captains Courageous (1937), Adam's Rib (1949), and Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967).
trad¹ /træd/ also trad jazz n [U] a style of JAZZ originally played in New Orleans about 1920, marked by free expression within a set instrumental structure → see also DIXIELAND
trad² adj infml, especially BrE for TRADITIONAL
trade¹ /treɪd/ n 1 [U] the process of buying, selling, or exchanging goods, within a country or between countries: The fall in the value of the pound may help to stimulate international trade. | a new trade agreement between England and France 2 [the S] a particular business or industry: He