vt (1)跟(追)踪(follow by means of clues，evidence，etc)[T+n，T+n+prep (to)]：～the origins of a word 追溯词的出处;～a criminal/a thief to London (his hideout) 跟踪罪犯/窃贼到伦敦(其藏身的地方);～a fox to its den 追踪一只狐狸到其巢穴;～a story to its origin 查明一个故事的出处;～a river to its source 查明一条河的源头;～the steps to a pond 跟踪脚印到水塘边;〖同〗 track，hunt;

(2)发现，找到(find or discover by means of clues，evidence，etc)[T+n]：cannot～that letter/that document 查不到那封信/那个文件;(post office) try to～a missing package (邮局)设法查找丢失的包裹; (policeman) try to～a missing man (警察)设法寻找一个失踪的人;The source of the infection/Several ancient Roman army camps has(have) been～d. 感染源/一些古罗马军队的营地已经找到。〖同〗discover，find;

(3)讲(追)述……的发展(describe the development of sth)[T+n]：～the beginning of the labor movement/the decline of the Roman empire/the history of modern art/the development of social organization 叙述工人运动的起源/罗马帝国的衰亡/现代艺术的历史/社会组织的发展;〖同〗outline，describe;

(4)追溯(have or discover the origin of sth)[T+n，T+n+adv (back)+prep (to)，T+n+prep (to)]：～one's family back to John Alden 追溯家族的先人到约翰·奥尔登;～one's ancestry back to William the Conqueror 追溯自己的祖先直至威廉一世;～a system of government back to the ancient Romans 追溯一政府体制的历史直至古罗马;(family) can～its history back to the 10th century (家族的)历史可追溯到10世纪; (man) can～his descent back to an old Norman family (某人的)血统可追溯到一个古老的诺尔曼家族;(the whole false story/the rumor) be～d (back) to an opposition politician (整个虚假的故事/谣言)源于一政敌; (sb's fear of water) be～d (back) to a childhood accident (某人对水的恐惧)源于儿时的一次意外事故;(the cause of the fire)be～d (back)to a faulty fuse-box (火灾)源于保险丝盒的故障;

(5) 1)描(绘)出……的轮廓(sketch the outline of sth)[T+n，T+n+adv (out)]：～out one's route/the shape of the buildings/a plan of the fort/the location of the lot 标出路线/画出建筑物的外形/描绘出堡垒的详图/标出空地的位置;〖同〗outline，draw; 2)缓慢而费力地写(write slowly and with difficulty)[T+n]：～one's name/one's signature slowly (laboriously) 缓慢(费力)地写下名字/签名;

(6)描，拓，复制(写)(copy by following lines seen through a sheet of transparent paper)[T+n]：～a drawing on a piece of tissue paper/a map onto a sheet of paper 用一张薄纸把画拓下来/一张纸把地图拓下来;〖同〗copy;

→′tracer n 追踪者;绘图员;描绘工具;曳光弹;′tracing n(图的)复制件;′tracing-paper n(透明)描图纸;′traceable adj 可追踪的;可描画的;′traceableness n 可追踪性;可描绘性;′traceably adv 可追踪地;可描画地;

n (1)痕(遗，踪，形，足)迹(visible mark or sign of the former existence or，influence of some event)[C，U]：～s of prehistoric habitation/a once ancient civilization 史前聚居地/古代文明的遗迹;There were～s of egg on the plate. 盘子里留有鸡蛋的痕迹。T～s of the struggle could be seen on the ground. 看得出地上有打斗的痕迹。There's still no～of the missing child/jewels. 还没有发现丢失的孩子/珠宝的踪迹。unable to find any～of the gang/the murderer/the cattle/the ancient ruin 找不到那帮歹徒的踪迹/那个杀人凶手的踪迹/那牛群的踪迹/古代遗迹;lose all～of sb 不知某人在何处;(ship/car/person/sheep)have vanished/disappeared without (a)～(船/小汽车/人/羊群)消失/消失得无影无踪;be lost without～in the forest 没留一点痕迹，在森林里失踪了;War/The earthquake has left its～(s) on the countryside. 战争/地震在农村留下遗迹。Sorrow has left its～(s) upon his character. 悲伤在他的个性中留下了印迹。〖同〗sign，mark，trail，track;

(2)很少量(extremely small amount of sth)[C]：reveal/find～s of poison in sb's sto-mach 在某人胃里发现/找到微量毒物;There was a～of jealousy/sarcasm/sadness in his voice (tone/smile). 在他的话语(口气/微笑)中带有(一丝)嫉妒/讽刺/忧伤。speak without a～of emotion 讲话毫无感情;It rained a～last night. 昨天夜里下了一点儿雨。～element 微量元素;〖同〗bit，drop，hint，suggestion，shade;

→′traceless adj 无痕迹的;

【辨异】trace 与track和trail都可表示“痕迹”。trace 指广意上的“痕迹”，用法较广，如脚印、碎片等，或者无形的“痕迹”。track 指的是在地上留下的印迹，如：follow the tracks of a bear in the snow(在雪地里跟踪熊的足迹);trail 指的是一连串的“痕迹”，还可指气味(人或动物留下的气味)，如：a trail of smoke(一缕烟)。