trace
UK: treɪs | US: treɪs
n. a mark or sign left behind by something
n. a very small quantity of a substance
vt. to find or discover by investigation
vt. to copy by following lines seen through a transparent medium
The word "trace" originates from Old French tracier ("to make a path, follow, or draw"), derived from Vulgar Latin tractiare, a frequentative form of Latin trahere ("to pull, draw"). The core idea of "pulling" or "drawing" evolved into meanings like "following a path" (verb) and "a mark left behind" (noun). The suffix -ce (via French -er and Latin -are) marks it as a verb/noun. Over time, "trace" expanded to include abstract senses like "detecting origins" or "minute remnants."
The detective found a trace of blood at the crime scene.
Scientists can trace the origins of the virus to a specific region.
She traced the outline of the map with her finger.
There wasn’t even a trace of doubt in his voice.
The artist traced the portrait onto a fresh canvas.