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tracer

[ trey-ser ]
/ ˈtreɪ sər /
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noun
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Origin of tracer

First recorded in 1535–45; trace1 + -er1
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use tracer in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for tracer

tracer
/ (ˈtreɪsə) /

noun
a person or thing that traces
  1. a projectile that can be observed when in flight by the burning of chemical substances in its base
  2. ammunition consisting of such projectiles
  3. (as modifier)tracer fire
med any radioactive isotope introduced into the body to study metabolic processes, absorption, etc, by following its progress through the body with a gamma camera or other detector
an investigation to trace missing cargo, mail, etc
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for tracer

tracer
[ trāsər ]

An identifiable substance, such as a dye or radioactive isotope, that can be followed through the course of a mechanical, chemical, or biological process. Tracers are used in radioimmunoassays and other laboratory testing. The use of radioactive iodine, for example, can give information about thyroid gland metabolism. Also called label
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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