tracing

American  

[trey-sing] / ˈtreɪ sɪŋ /

noun

1. the act of a person or thing that traces.

2. something that is produced by tracing.

3. a copy of a drawing, map, plan, etc., made by tracing on a transparent sheet placed over the original.

4. the record made by a self-registering instrument.

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tracing British  

/ ˈtreɪsɪŋ /

noun

1. a copy made by tracing

2. the act of making a trace

3. a record made by an instrument

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Etymology

Origin of tracing

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; see origin at trace ¹, -ing ¹

Example Sentences

Centers for Disease Control to conduct contact tracing.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 14, 2026

The genomic evidence has been critical in pinpointing the reservoir of the plague in Central Asia and in tracing its lightning-fast diffusion along trade routes.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 12, 2026

However, one of the biggest concerns remains contact tracing.

From BBC • Jun. 5, 2026

The findings will also guide future dye tracing experiments.

From Science Daily • Jun. 2, 2026

They followed Bob through the wasteland, tracing the route of the Phlegethon as they approached the storm front of darkness.

From "The House of Hades" by Rick Riordan

Related Words

• architecture
• arrangement
• composition
• construction
• drawing
• form
• idea
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• map
• method
• model
• pattern
• picture
• plan
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• study