find or discover by investigation

police are trying to trace a white van seen in the area

copy (a drawing, map, or design) by drawing over its lines on a superimposed piece of transparent paper

trace a map of the world on to a large piece of paper

a mark, object, or other indication of the existence or passing of something

remove all traces of the old adhesive

the aircraft disappeared without trace

a very small quantity, especially one too small to be accurately measured

his body contained traces of amphetamines

trace quantities of PCBs

a procedure to investigate the source of something, such as the place from which a telephone call was made

we've got a trace on the call

a line which represents the projection of a curve or surface on a plane or the intersection of a curve or surface with a plane

a path or track

the sum of the elements in the principal diagonal of a square matrix

each of the two side straps, chains, or ropes by which a horse is attached to a vehicle that it is pulling

the horses pulling the carriage suddenly snapped the traces and bolted off