Adjacent Words

Track definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

TRACK, n.
1. A mark left by something that has passed along; as the track of a ship, a wake; the track of a meteor; the track of a sled or sleigh.
2. A mark or impression left by the foot, either of man or beast. Savages are said to be wonderfully sagacious in finding the tracks of men in the forest.
3. A road; a beaten path.
Behold Torquatus the same track pursue.
4. Course; way; as the track of a comet.
TRACK, v.t. To follow when guided by a trace, or by the footsteps, or marks of the feet; as, to track a deer in the snow.
1. To tow; to draw a boat on the water in a canal.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: a line or route along which something travels or moves; "the hurricane demolished houses in its path"; "the track of an animal"; "the course of the river" [syn: path, track, course]
2: evidence pointing to a possible solution; "the police are following a promising lead"; "the trail led straight to the perpetrator" [syn: lead, track, trail]
3: a pair of parallel rails providing a runway for wheels
4: a course over which races are run [syn: racetrack, racecourse, raceway, track]
5: a distinct selection of music from a recording or a compact disc; "he played the first cut on the cd"; "the title track of the album" [syn: cut, track]
6: an endless metal belt on which tracked vehicles move over the ground [syn: track, caterpillar track, caterpillar tread]
7: (computer science) one of the circular magnetic paths on a magnetic disk that serve as a guide for writing and reading data [syn: track, data track]
8: a groove on a phonograph recording
9: a bar or pair of parallel bars of rolled steel making the railway along which railroad cars or other vehicles can roll [syn: track, rail, rails, runway]
10: any road or path affording passage especially a rough one [syn: track, cart track, cartroad]
11: the act of participating in an athletic competition involving running on a track [syn: track, running] v
1: carry on the feet and deposit; "track mud into the house"
2: observe or plot the moving path of something; "track a missile"
3: go after with the intent to catch; "The policeman chased the mugger down the alley"; "the dog chased the rabbit" [syn: chase, chase after, trail, tail, tag, give chase, dog, go after, track]
4: travel across or pass over; "The caravan covered almost 100 miles each day" [syn: traverse, track, cover, cross, pass over, get over, get across, cut through, cut across]
5: make tracks upon

Merriam Webster's

I. noun Etymology: Middle English trak, from Middle French trac Date: 15th century 1. a. detectable evidence (as the wake of a ship, a line of footprints, or a wheel rut) that something has passed b. a path made by or as if by repeated footfalls ; trail c. a course laid out especially for racing d. the parallel rails of a railroad e. (1) one of a series of parallel or concentric paths along which material (as music or information) is recorded (as on a phonograph record or magnetic tape) (2) a group of grooves on a phonograph record containing recorded sound (3) material recorded especially on or as if on a track <a laugh track> <instrumental tracks> <a bonus commentary track on a DVD> f. a usually metal way (as a groove) serving as a guide (as for a movable lighting fixture) 2. a footprint whether recent or fossil <the huge track of a dinosaur> 3. a. the course along which something moves or progresses b. a way of life, conduct, or action c. one of several curricula of study to which students are assigned according to their needs or levels of ability d. the projection on the earth's surface of the path along which something (as a missile or an airplane) has flown 4. a. a sequence of events ; a train of ideas ; succession b. an awareness of a fact, progression, or condition <keep track of the costs> <lose track of the time> 5. a. the width of a wheeled vehicle from wheel to wheel and usually from the outside of the rims b. the tread of an automobile tire c. either of two endless belts on which a tracklaying vehicle travels 6. track-and-field sports; especially those performed on a running track Synonyms: see trace • trackless adjective II. verb Date: 1565 transitive verb 1. a. to follow the tracks or traces of ; trail b. to search for by following evidence until found <track down the source> 2. a. to follow by vestiges ; trace b. to observe or plot the moving path of (as a spacecraft or missile) often instrumentally 3. to travel over ; traverse <track a desert> 4. a. to make tracks upon b. to carry (as mud) on the feet and deposit 5. to keep track of (as a trend) ; follow intransitive verb 1. travel <a comet tracking eastward> 2. a. of a phonograph needle to follow the groove undulations of a recording b. of a pair of wheels (1) to maintain a constant distance apart on the straightaway (2) to fit a track or rails c. of a rear wheel of a vehicle to follow accurately the corresponding fore wheel on a straightaway 3. to leave tracks (as on a floor) • tracker noun

U.S. Military Dictionary

1. A series of related contacts displayed on a data display console or other display device. 2. To display or record the successive positions of a moving object. 3. To lock onto a point of radiation and obtain guidance therefrom. 4. To keep a gun properly aimed, or to point continuously a target-locating instrument at a moving target. 5. The actual path of an aircraft above or a ship on the surface of the Earth. The course is the path that is planned; the track is the path that is actually taken. 6. One of the two endless belts on which a full-track or half-track vehicle runs. 7. A metal part forming a path for a moving object; e.g., the track around the inside of a vehicle for moving a mounted machine gun.

Oxford Reference Dictionary

1. n. & v. --n. 1 a a mark or marks left by a person, animal, or thing in passing. b (in pl.) such marks esp. footprints. 2 a rough path, esp. one beaten by use. 3 a continuous railway line (laid three miles of track). 4 a a racecourse for horses, dogs, etc. b a prepared course for runners etc. 5 a a groove on a gramophone record. b a section of a gramophone record containing one song etc. (this side has six tracks). c a lengthwise strip of magnetic tape containing one sequence of signals. 6 a a line of travel, passage, or motion (followed the track of the hurricane; America followed in the same track). b the path travelled by a ship, aircraft, etc. (cf. COURSE n. 2c). 7 a continuous band round the wheels of a tank, tractor, etc. 8 the transverse distance between a vehicle's wheels. 9 = SOUNDTRACK. 10 a line of reasoning or thought (this track proved fruitless). --v. 1 tr. follow the track of (an animal, person, spacecraft, etc.). 2 tr. make out (a course, development, etc.); trace by vestiges. 3 intr. (often foll. by back, in, etc.) (of a film or television camera) move in relation to the subject being filmed. 4 intr. (of wheels) run so that the back ones are exactly in the track of the front ones. 5 intr. (of a gramophone stylus) follow a groove. 6 tr. US a make a track with (dirt etc.) from the feet. b leave such a track on (a floor etc.). Phrases and idioms: in one's tracks colloq. where one stands, there and then (stopped him in his tracks). keep (or lose) track of follow (or fail to follow) the course or development of. make tracks colloq. go or run away. make tracks for colloq. go in pursuit of or towards. off the track away from the subject. on a person's track 1 in pursuit of him or her. 2 in possession of a clue to a person's conduct, plans, etc. on the wrong side of (or across) the tracks colloq. in an inferior or dubious part of town. on the wrong (or right) track following the wrong (or right) line of inquiry. track down reach or capture by tracking. track events running-races as opposed to jumping etc. (cf. field events). tracking station an establishment set up to track objects in the sky. track-laying (of a vehicle) having a caterpillar tread. track record a person's past performance or achievements. track shoe a spiked shoe worn by a runner. track suit a loose warm suit worn by an athlete etc. for exercising or jogging. track system US streaming in education. track with Austral. sl. associate with, court. Derivatives: trackage US n. Etymology: ME f. OF trac, perh. f. LG or Du. tre(c)k draught etc. 2. v. 1 tr. tow (a boat) by rope etc. from a bank. 2 intr. travel by being towed. Etymology: app. f. Du. trekken to draw etc., assim. to TRACK(1)

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Track Track, n. [OF. trac track of horses, mules, trace of animals; of Teutonic origin; cf.D. trek a drawing, trekken to draw, travel, march, MHG. trechen, pret. trach. Cf. Trick.] 1. A mark left by something that has passed along; as, the track, or wake, of a ship; the track of a meteor; the track of a sled or a wheel. The bright track of his fiery car. --Shak. 2. A mark or impression left by the foot, either of man or beast; trace; vestige; footprint. Far from track of men. --Milton. 3. (Zo["o]l.) The entire lower surface of the foot; -- said of birds, etc. 4. A road; a beaten path. Behold Torquatus the same track pursue. --Dryden. 5. Course; way; as, the track of a comet. 6. A path or course laid out for a race, for exercise, etc. 7. (Railroad) The permanent way; the rails. 8. [Perhaps a mistake for tract.] A tract or area, as of land. [Obs.] ``Small tracks of ground.'' --Fuller. Track scale, a railway scale. See under Railway.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Track Track, v. t. [imp. & p. p. tracked; p. pr. & vb. n. tracking.] To follow the tracks or traces of; to pursue by following the marks of the feet; to trace; to trail; as, to track a deer in the snow. It was often found impossible to track the robbers to their retreats among the hills and morasses. --Macaulay. 2. (Naut.) To draw along continuously, as a vessel, by a line, men or animals on shore being the motive power; to tow.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Gauge Gauge, n. [Written also gage.] 1. A measure; a standard of measure; an instrument to determine dimensions, distance, or capacity; a standard. This plate must be a gauge to file your worm and groove to equal breadth by. --Moxon. There is not in our hands any fixed gauge of minds. --I. Taylor. 2. Measure; dimensions; estimate. The gauge and dimensions of misery, depression, and contempt. --Burke. 3. (Mach. & Manuf.) Any instrument for ascertaining or regulating the dimensions or forms of things; a templet or template; as, a button maker's gauge. 4. (Physics) Any instrument or apparatus for measuring the state of a phenomenon, or for ascertaining its numerical elements at any moment; -- usually applied to some particular instrument; as, a rain gauge; a steam gauge. 5. (Naut.) (a) Relative positions of two or more vessels with reference to the wind; as, a vessel has the weather gauge of another when on the windward side of it, and the lee gauge when on the lee side of it. (b) The depth to which a vessel sinks in the water. --Totten. 6. The distance between the rails of a railway. Note: The standard gauge of railroads in most countries is four feet, eight and one half inches. Wide, or broad, gauge, in the United States, is six feet; in England, seven feet, and generally any gauge exceeding standard gauge. Any gauge less than standard gauge is now called narrow gauge. It varies from two feet to three feet six inches. 7. (Plastering) The quantity of plaster of Paris used with common plaster to accelerate its setting. 8. (Building) That part of a shingle, slate, or tile, which is exposed to the weather, when laid; also, one course of such shingles, slates, or tiles. Gauge of a carriage, car, etc., the distance between the wheels; -- ordinarily called the track. Gauge cock, a stop cock used as a try cock for ascertaining the height of the water level in a steam boiler. Gauge concussion (Railroads), the jar caused by a car-wheel flange striking the edge of the rail. Gauge glass, a glass tube for a water gauge. Gauge lathe, an automatic lathe for turning a round object having an irregular profile, as a baluster or chair round, to a templet or gauge. Gauge point, the diameter of a cylinder whose altitude is one inch, and contents equal to that of a unit of a given measure; -- a term used in gauging casks, etc. Gauge rod, a graduated rod, for measuring the capacity of barrels, casks, etc. Gauge saw, a handsaw, with a gauge to regulate the depth of cut. --Knight. Gauge stuff, a stiff and compact plaster, used in making cornices, moldings, etc., by means of a templet. Gauge wheel, a wheel at the forward end of a plow beam, to determine the depth of the furrow. Joiner's gauge, an instrument used to strike a line parallel to the straight side of a board, etc. Printer's gauge, an instrument to regulate the length of the page. Rain gauge, an instrument for measuring the quantity of rain at any given place. Salt gauge, or Brine gauge, an instrument or contrivance for indicating the degree of saltness of water from its specific gravity, as in the boilers of ocean steamers. Sea gauge, an instrument for finding the depth of the sea. Siphon gauge, a glass siphon tube, partly filled with mercury, -- used to indicate pressure, as of steam, or the degree of rarefaction produced in the receiver of an air pump or other vacuum; a manometer. Sliding gauge. (Mach.) (a) A templet or pattern for gauging the commonly accepted dimensions or shape of certain parts in general use, as screws, railway-car axles, etc. (b) A gauge used only for testing other similar gauges, and preserved as a reference, to detect wear of the working gauges. (c) (Railroads) See Note under Gauge, n., 5. Star gauge (Ordnance), an instrument for measuring the diameter of the bore of a cannon at any point of its length. Steam gauge, an instrument for measuring the pressure of steam, as in a boiler. Tide gauge, an instrument for determining the height of the tides. Vacuum gauge, a species of barometer for determining the relative elasticities of the vapor in the condenser of a steam engine and the air. Water gauge. (a) A contrivance for indicating the height of a water surface, as in a steam boiler; as by a gauge cock or glass. (b) The height of the water in the boiler. Wind gauge, an instrument for measuring the force of the wind on any given surface; an anemometer. Wire gauge, a gauge for determining the diameter of wire or the thickness of sheet metal; also, a standard of size. See under Wire.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(tracks, tracking, tracked) Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English. 1. A track is a narrow road or path. We set off once more, over a rough mountain track. = path N-COUNT 2. A track is a piece of ground, often oval-shaped, that is used for races involving athletes, cars, bicycles, horses, or dogs called greyhounds. The two men turned to watch the horses going round the track. ...the athletics track. N-COUNT 3. Railway tracks are the rails that a train travels along. A woman fell on to the tracks. N-COUNT: usu pl 4. A track is one of the songs or pieces of music on a CD, record, or tape. N-COUNT 5. Tracks are marks left in the ground by the feet of animals or people. The only evidence of pandas was their tracks in the snow... N-PLURAL: oft supp N 6. If you track animals or people, you try to follow them by looking for the signs that they have left behind, for example the marks left by their feet. He thought he had better track this wolf and kill it... VERB: V n 7. To track someone or something means to follow their movements by means of a special device, such as a satellite or radar. Our radar began tracking the jets... VERB: V n 8. If you track someone or something, you investigate them, because you are interested in finding out more about them. If it's possible, track the rumour back to its origin... VERB: V n 9. In a school, a track is a group of children of the same age and ability who are taught together. (AM; in BRIT, use stream) N-COUNT 10. To track students means to divide them into groups according to their ability. (AM; in BRIT, use stream) Students are already being tracked. VERB: be V-ed, also V n • tracking Tracking assigns some students to college prep and others to vocational programs. N-UNCOUNT 11. see also backtrack, fast track, racetrack, sidetrack, soundtrack, title track 12. If someone covers their tracks, they hide or destroy evidence of their identity or their actions, because they want to keep them secret. He covered his tracks, burnt letters and diaries... PHRASE: V inflects 13. If you say that someone has the inside track, you mean that they have an advantage, for example special knowledge about something. (mainly AM or JOURNALISM) Denver has the inside track among 10 sites being considered... PHRASE: V inflects 14. If you keep track of a situation or a person, you make sure that you have the newest and most accurate information about them all the time. With eleven thousand employees, it's very difficult to keep track of them all... PHRASE: V inflects, PHR n 15. If you lose track of someone or something, you no longer know where they are or what is happening. You become so deeply absorbed in an activity that you lose track of time... PHRASE: V inflects, PHR n 16. If you make tracks, you leave the place where you are, especially when you are in a hurry. (INFORMAL) We'd better make tracks soon, hadn't we? PHRASE: V inflects 17. If someone or something is on track, they are acting or progressing in a way that is likely to result in success. It may take some time to get the British economy back on track... PHRASE: PHR after v, v-link PHR 18. If you are on the track of someone or something, you are trying to find them, or find information about them. He was on the track of an escaped criminal... = on the trail of PHRASE: PHR n, usu v-link PHR 19. If you are on the right track, you are acting or progressing in a way that is likely to result in success. If you are on the wrong track, you are acting or progressing in a way that is likely to result in failure. Guests are returning in increasing numbers–a sure sign that we are on the right track... The country was headed on the wrong track, economically. PHRASE: v-link PHR, PHR after v 20. If someone or something stops you in your tracks, or if you stop dead in your tracks, you suddenly stop moving because you are very surprised, impressed, or frightened. The thought almost stopped me dead in my tracks. PHRASE: V inflects 21. If someone or something stops a process or activity in its tracks, or if it stops dead in its tracks, they prevent the process or activity from continuing. U.S. manufacturers may find the export boom stopping dead in its tracks. PHRASE: V inflects 22. off the beaten track: see beaten

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

I. n. 1. Footprint, footmark, footstep, trace, vestige. 2. Trail, wake, trace. 3. Course, way, road, path, pathway, beaten path. 4. Lines of rails (on a railway). II. v. a. Follow (by a track), trace, trail, pursue, chase.

1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue

To go. Track up the dancers; go up stairs. Cant.

Moby Thesaurus

L, Rugby, a reckoning of, account of, acrobatics, afterclap, aftercrop, aftereffect, afterglow, aftergrowth, afterimage, aftermath, aftertaste, agonistics, aim, air lane, alameda, alley, apprehend, archery ground, artery, association football, athletic field, athletics, attend, automobile racing, avenue, azimuth, backwash, badminton court, baseball field, basketball court, bathing, bearing, beat, beaten path, beaten track, bent, berm, bicycle path, billiard parlor, birthmark, blackhead, bleb, blemish, blister, boardwalk, boulevard, bowling alley, bowling green, branch, bridle path, broad hint, bulla, bureaucracy, bureaucratism, cable railway, capture, catch, catwalk, chase, check, check of, chinoiserie, cicatrix, circuit, class, clue, cog railway, come after, comedo, condensation trail, contrail, count of, course, court, cover, crack, crater, craze, cricket ground, croquet ground, croquet lawn, cue, current, daily grind, defacement, defect, deformation, deformity, diamond, direction, direction line, disfiguration, disfigurement, displace, distortion, do, dog, dog racing, drag, drift, drive, el, electric railway, elevated, elevated railway, emanate, embankment, ensue, esplanade, fairway, falcon, fastwalk, fault, feeder, feeder line, ferret out, field, find, flaw, flight path, flush, follow, follow a clue, follow after, follow the hounds, follow up, foot pavement, football field, footpath, footprints, footstep, footway, forget, form, fowl, freckle, garden path, gentle hint, gesture, glaciarium, glimmer, glimmering, go after, go hunting, golf course, golf links, grade, gravity-operated railway, gridiron, grind, groove, gun, gym, gymnasium, gymnastics, hawk, heading, helmsmanship, hemangioma, hickey, highway, hiking trail, hint, horse racing, horse railway, hound, hunt, hunt down, ice rink, implication, impress, imprint, inclination, index, indication, infield, inkling, innuendo, insinuation, intimation, issue, itinerary, jack, jacklight, jog trot, junction, keep track of, keep up on, keep up with, keloid, kick, kink, lay, lentigo, lie, light railroad, line, line of direction, line of march, links, look, lose, lose sight of, lose track of, main line, mall, mark, measure, metro, milium, mislay, misplace, mole, monitor, monorail, natation, navigation, needle scar, nevus, nod, nose, nose out, nudge, orbit, orientation, outfield, oval, overpass, oversee, overtake, palaestra, parade, pass over, pass through, path, pathway, patrol, perambulate, peregrinate, pererrate, piloting, pimple, piste, pit, playground, playing field, playroom, ply, pock, pockmark, point, polo ground, pool hall, poolroom, port-wine mark, port-wine stain, prado, primrose path, print, prints, promenade, prompt, prowl after, public walk, pursue, pustule, putting green, quarter, racecourse, racing, rack railway, rack-and-pinion railway, racket court, rail, rail line, railroad, rails, railway, range, range over, reconnoiter, record, red tape, red-tapeism, replace, result, ride to hounds, rift, rink, road, roadbed, roadway, round, route, routine, rugger, run, run down, run to earth, runway, rut, scab, scar, scent, scour, scour the country, scout, scratch, sea lane, sebaceous cyst, seek out, set, shadow, shikar, shoot, shortcut, sidetrack, sidewalk, siding, sign, signal, signs, skating rink, slot, smell out, sniff out, soccer, soccer field, split, spoor, sport, sports, squash court, squirrel cage, stalk, start, steerage, steering, step, still-hunt, strawberry mark, street, street railway, streetcar line, stretch, sty, subway, succeed, suggestion, supervene, supervise, suspicion, sweep, swimming, switchback, symptom, tabs of, tail, tally of, telltale, tendency, tennis court, tenor, terminal, terminus, the turf, thoroughfare, tour, towing path, towpath, trace, trace down, traces, track, track and field, track down, track of, track sports, tract, trade route, trail, traject, trajectory, trajet, tram, tramline, transit, travel over, travel through, traverse, tread, treadmill, trend, trestle, trolley line, trottoir, trunk, trunk line, tube, tumbling, turf, turnout, twist, underground, vapor trail, verruca, vesicle, vestige, voyage, wake, wale, walk, walkway, warp, wart, wash, watch, way, weal, well-worn groove, welt, wen, whisper, whitehead, wink