
trace
词源
源自中古英语tracen,来自古法语tracier,最终源自拉丁语tractus(拉、拖),与trahere(拉)有关。
noun
❶ 指微小的痕迹或迹象,通常指难以察觉但确实存在的残留物或线索。
“There was no trace of the missing documents in the office.”
(办公室里找不到失踪文件的任何痕迹。)
“Scientists found traces of ancient pollen in the soil sample.”
(科学家在土壤样本中发现了古代花粉的痕迹。)
❶ 指非常小的数量或程度,几乎难以测量但确实存在。
“The water contained only a trace of minerals.”
(水中只含有微量矿物质。)
“There's a trace of sarcasm in his voice when he speaks.”
(他说话时带着一丝讽刺的意味。)
verb
❶ 指仔细寻找或追踪某人或某物的来源、发展或位置。
“Police are trying to trace the origin of the threatening emails.”
(警方正在追查这些威胁邮件的来源。)
“She traced her family history back to the 18th century.”
(她将自己的家族历史追溯到了18世纪。)
❶ 指用手指或工具沿着某物的轮廓移动,通常是为了复制或感受其形状。
“The child traced the letters in the sand with a stick.”
(孩子用棍子在沙地上描画字母。)
“She traced the pattern onto the fabric using carbon paper.”
(她用复写纸把图案描到布料上。)
常见短语
trace back to — 指将某事或某物的起源或原因追溯到某个特定的时间、地点或事件。
“The tradition traces back to medieval times.”
(这个传统可以追溯到中世纪。)
without a trace — 形容完全消失或不见,没有留下任何线索或证据。
“The plane disappeared without a trace over the ocean.”
(飞机在海洋上空消失得无影无踪。)