trace

• Substantif désignant une très petite quantité, une marque ou un indice laissé par quelque chose, indiquant sa présence ou son passage antérieur, ou encore une très faible quantité d'une substance.

A noun referring to a very small amount, mark, or sign of something that indicates its former presence or existence.

1. Small amount or signB1formal

   A very small quantity or indication of something that is left behind.

   Trace (petite quantité ou signe)

   • There was a trace of sadness in her voice.
   • The police found traces of paint at the crime scene.
   • He detected a trace of sarcasm in her comment.

   Synonymesbithintindicationremnantshredsignsuggestiontingetouchvestige

   Antonymesabundanceexcessmassplenitudeplentyprofusion

2. Path or markB1formal

   A mark, object, or sign that shows the existence or passing of something.

   Trace (marque laissée)

   • The hikers followed the trace through the forest.
   • The car left traces of mud on the driveway.
   • Archaeologists discovered traces of an ancient settlement.

   Synonymesevidencehintindicationmarkremnantresiduesigntokentracktrailvestige

3. Drawing or copyingB2formal

   A copy or outline made by tracing over a design or image.

   Copie ou contour obtenu par calquage

   • She made a trace of the map using tracing paper.
   • The artist created a trace of the original sketch.
   • He used a lightbox to produce an accurate trace of the diagram.

   Synonymescopydraftoutlinereproductionsketchtracing

   Antonymesoriginal

• Verbe utilisé pour désigner l'action de suivre, détecter ou délimiter le cours, l'origine ou le développement de quelque chose, ou de le copier en suivant ses contours.

A verb used to indicate the act of following, discovering, or outlining the course, origin, or development of something.

1. Find or discoverB1formal

   To find someone or something that has disappeared or been lost.

   retrouver, dépister

   • The police traced the missing child to a nearby town.
   • They traced the source of the leak to a faulty pipe.
   • She traced her family roots back to the 18th century.

   Synonymesdiscoverfindhunt downlocatetrack downunearth

   Antonymesforgetlosemisplacemissoverlook

2. Copy or drawA2formal

   To copy a drawing, pattern, or outline by drawing over it on a transparent sheet.

   calquer ou décalquer

   • He traced the map onto a piece of tracing paper.
   • The child traced the letters of the alphabet.
   • She traced the outline of the flower with a pencil.

   Synonymescopydraftdrawduplicateoutlinereproducesketch

3. Follow the courseB2formal

   To follow the path or development of something over time.

   Suivre la trace

   • The historian traced the evolution of democracy.
   • We can trace the river's course on this map.
   • The study traces the changes in climate over the last century.

   Synonymeschartdelineatefollowmapoutlinetrack