trace
trace — 動詞
1. to locate a missing person, animal, or object by following clues or signs that i
追蹤；追查
循線找到失蹤的人或物
to locate a missing person, animal, or object by following clues or signs that indicate where they have gone
The police used satellite images to trace the missing boat in the Pacific Ocean.
警方利用衛星影像在太平洋上追蹤到那艘失蹤的船。
trace + missing + location using technology
After months of searching, Anong traced her lost documents to a storage unit across town.
經過數月的搜尋，Anong 將遺失的文件追查到鎮上另一頭的一個儲物間。
trace + object + to + location
The rescue team traced the hikers through the forest using their mobile phone signals.
救援隊利用手機訊號，在森林裡追蹤到了那群登山客。
Nila traced the dog's owner by checking the microchip at the vet clinic.
Nila 在獸醫診所掃描晶片，追查到了那隻狗的主人。
- lose
to be unable to find someone or something
文法句型
trace + object + to/in/through + location
用法筆記
Object can be a person, animal, or physical object. Often used with a location phrase introduced by to, in, or through.
常見錯誤
2. to discover where something began or what caused it, usually by working backward
追溯源頭
找出事物的起源或原因
to discover where something began or what caused it, usually by working backwards through the evidence
Health officials traced the outbreak of the illness to contaminated water from an old well.
衛生官員將疾病的爆發追溯至一口老舊水井中被汙染的水源。
trace + event + to + cause
The teacher helped students trace the argument to a simple misunderstanding about homework.
老師幫助學生將爭論追溯到對作業的一個單純誤解。
Walid traced the strange noise to a loose pipe behind the wall in the kitchen.
Walid 將奇怪的聲音追溯到廚房牆壁後方一條鬆動的管子。
Investigators traced the anonymous letter back to a disgruntled former employee of the company.
調查人員將那封匿名信追溯到公司一名心懷不滿的前員工。
- identify the source
slightly more formal; often used in scientific or technical contexts
- pinpoint
suggests greater precision; used for exact locations or moments
文法句型
trace + object + to + origin
trace + that-clause
用法筆記
Commonly followed by the preposition to or the phrasal combination back to. The object is typically an event, a problem, or a physical phenomenon.
3. to find the underlying causes of something by studying how it has changed and de
追溯根源
透過發展過程找出根本原因
to find the underlying causes of something by studying how it has changed and developed over a period of time
The study traces the city's growth to the opening of a new railway line in 1920.
該研究將這座城市的快速成長追溯到1920年一條新鐵路的開通。
trace + development + to + historical cause
Researchers traced the company's success to a clever decision made by the founder in 2005.
研究人員將該公司早期的成功追溯到創辦人在2005年做出的一項明智決策。
The documentary traces the current conflict to political changes that began fifty years ago.
這部紀錄片將當前的衝突追溯到五十年前開始的政治變化。
By examining old letters, historians traced the wealth to the silk trade in the 1800s.
透過查閱舊信件，歷史學家將這個家族的財富追溯到十九世紀的絲綢貿易。
- determine the origins of
more formal; emphasises the result rather than the investigative process
文法句型
trace + object + to + cause through historical study
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 4 (DESCRIBE DEVELOPMENT): sense 3 focuses on finding causes by examining development, while sense 4 simply describes the development itself without necessarily identifying causes.
4. to describe or explain the sequence of events or stages through which something
描繪發展
描述事物如何逐步演進
to describe or explain the sequence of events or stages through which something has progressed over time
The book traces the history of democracy from ancient Greece to modern parliamentary systems.
這本書描繪了民主制度從古希臘到現代議會體系的發展歷程。
trace the history of [topic] from [start] to [end]
Otis traced the development of jazz music through interviews with thirty different musicians.
Otis 透過訪談三十位不同的音樂家，描繪了爵士樂的發展歷程。
The report traces women's progress in higher education in Japan over the past century.
這份報告描繪了日本女性在高等教育領域的進展。
Professor Chen traced Chinese writing from oracle bones to digital fonts.
陳教授描繪了漢字從甲骨文到數位字體的演變過程。
文法句型
trace + the development/history/progress of + topic
用法筆記
Commonly appears in academic and non-fiction writing. Subject is often a book, report, lecture, or documentary. The focus is on description, not on discovering causes.
常見錯誤
5. to reproduce an existing picture or design by laying a thin see-through sheet on
描圖
用半透明紙覆蓋原圖描繪
to reproduce an existing picture or design by laying a thin see-through sheet on top of it and following the visible lines with a writing tool
Ryo traced the outline of a leaf onto paper using thin tracing paper.
Ryo 用一張薄薄的描圖紙，將葉子的輪廓描到紙上。
trace + outline + onto + paper using tracing paper
The art student traced the map before adding place names with colored pencils.
那位美術生先描出地圖的線條，再用色鉛筆加上地名標示。
Benjamin traced his favourite cartoon character from a comic book onto his sketchpad.
Benjamin 把他最喜歡的漫畫角色從書上描到了他的素描本上。
The children traced animal shapes onto fabric for their craft project at school.
孩子們把動物形狀描到布片上，做為學校美勞課的作品。
- copy
more general; does not specify the tracing-paper technique
文法句型
trace + object + onto + surface
trace + object + with + tool
用法筆記
In digital contexts, trace can also mean "to use a computer to draw over an imported image" using image-editing software.
6. to draw the outer shape or boundary of something by moving a finger, pen, or oth
勾勒
畫出物體的外形輪廓
to draw the outer shape or boundary of something by moving a finger, pen, or other object along its edges or across a surface
Rachid traced a heart in the sand with a stick and smiled at his daughter.
Rachid 用樹枝在沙灘上畫了一個愛心，對著年幼的女兒微微一笑。
trace + shape + in + surface with + tool
With her finger, Amira traced the outline of a mountain on the old paper map.
Amira 用手指在泛黃的紙地圖上勾勒出一條山脈的輪廓。
trace + outline + on + surface
The child traced circles in the air while pretending to be a magician.
那個孩子雙手在空中畫圈，假裝自己是魔術師。
Pedro traced a fish shape on the foggy bus window during the ride home.
Pedro 在起霧的公車窗上畫了一條魚的形狀。
文法句型
trace + shape/outline + on/with + surface/tool
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 5 (COPY BY DRAWING): sense 6 involves creating an original outline freehand, not copying an existing image through transparent paper.
7. to follow a long, narrow route or path across a landscape, especially when descr
沿…走
沿著路線蜿蜒延伸
to follow a long, narrow route or path across a landscape, especially when describing the direction or shape of a road, river, or boundary
The ancient road traces the coastline for almost two hundred kilometres along the Mediterranean.
那條古道沿著地中海海岸線蜿蜒將近兩百公里。
trace + route + for distance along landmark
A narrow path traces the cliff edge and leads to a hidden beach below.
一條狹窄小徑沿著懸崖邊緣延伸，通往下方一個隱密的小沙灘。
The river traces a winding course through the valley before reaching the sea.
那條河流蜿蜒穿過翠綠的山谷，最終匯入大海。
A small train line traces the border and stops at six villages along the way.
一條小火車路線沿著兩國邊界行駛，沿途停靠六個村莊。
文法句型
trace + path/route + across/through/along + area
用法筆記
This sense is almost exclusively used with geographical features (rivers, roads, borders, paths) as the object. The subject is typically a natural feature or infrastructure.
trace — 名詞
1. a small physical sign or mark that shows that someone or something was present i
痕跡；跡象
事物存在或發生過的殘留標記
a small physical sign or mark that shows that someone or something was present in a place, or that a particular event happened there
The archaeologists found traces of a Roman settlement beneath the car park near the river.
考古學家在河邊的停車場下方發現了一座羅馬聚落的痕跡。
traces of [past settlement/habitation]
There was no trace of the stolen painting anywhere in the warehouse.
儘管徹底搜查了倉庫，仍然找不到那幅被偷畫作的任何蹤跡。
no trace of [lost/missing thing]
The fresh snow preserved traces of animal footprints from the night before in the garden.
新下的雪保存了前一晚動物在花園裡留下的足跡。
Detectives found traces of red paint on the suspect's shoes near the door.
偵探在門口附近發現嫌犯的鞋子上有紅色油漆的痕跡。
The old house showed no trace of the fire that damaged it years ago.
那棟老房子看不出任何十多年前那場大火嚴重破壞的痕跡。
文法句型
traces of + noun
a trace of + noun
no trace of + noun
用法筆記
Common in the phrase no trace of to indicate that something has completely disappeared or cannot be found.
常見錯誤
2. a record or report showing the route that an electronic message, phone call, or
追蹤記錄
電子通訊的傳輸路線記錄
a record or report showing the route that an electronic message, phone call, or online search has taken, or the act of finding this information
The phone company provided a trace of calls made from the suspect's number that night.
電話公司提供了竊案當晚從嫌疑人號碼撥出的所有電話的追蹤記錄。
phone trace / call trace
The email trace showed the message passed through servers in three different countries.
電子郵件追蹤記錄顯示，那封可疑信件曾經由三個不同國家的伺服器轉送。
Saira requested a trace of her parcel's delivery route after it failed to arrive.
包裹未能按時送達後，Saira 向快遞公司要求了配送路線的追蹤記錄。
The network administrator ran a trace to find where the security breach came from.
網路管理員進行了追蹤，以查明安全漏洞的來源。
- record
more general; does not specifically relate to electronic tracking
文法句型
a trace of + electronic communication
phone trace
email trace
用法筆記
In everyday conversation, trace in this sense is most commonly used in the phrases phone trace and email trace. The verb form I'll trace the call is equally common.
3. an extremely small quantity of something, especially a substance, a quality, or
微量；些許
極小且幾乎無法察覺的數量
an extremely small quantity of something, especially a substance, a quality, or an emotion, that is just barely noticeable or detectable
The sauce had a trace of chili that gave it a gentle warmth.
醬汁裡有一點點辣椒，帶來溫和的辣味，但不會太辣。
a trace of [flavour/ingredient]
There was a trace of amusement in her voice as she pretended to be angry.
她的語氣中帶著一絲好笑，儘管她假裝在生氣。
Laboratory tests detected traces of dangerous chemicals in the drinking water near the old factory.
實驗室檢測在舊工廠附近的飲用水中發現了微量有害化學物質。
Joshua spoke without a trace of nervousness during his wedding speech.
Joshua 在兩百位賓客面前發表婚禮致詞時，沒有一絲緊張。
A trace of sadness remained in her eyes after the conversation about her childhood.
即使關於童年的對話已經結束，她的眼神中仍殘留一絲悲傷。
- lot
a large amount
文法句型
a trace of + noun
traces of + noun
without a trace of + noun
用法筆記
Often used in the negative construction without a trace of to emphasise that a quality is completely absent. Can refer to physical substances (traces of poison) or abstract qualities (a trace of doubt).