track

track [trak]

n.

[LME trak < MFr trac, a track, tract, trace < ?]

1. a mark or series of marks or other discoverable evidence left by a person, animal, or thing that has passed, as a footprint, wheel rut, wake of a boat, etc.

2. a trace or vestige

3. a beaten path or trail left by the repeated passage of persons, animals, or vehicles

4.

a) a course or line of motion or action; route; way

b) the projection of the flight path of an airplane, rocket, etc. on the surface of the earth

5. a sequence of ideas, events, etc.; succession

6. a path or circuit laid out for running, horse racing, etc.

☆ 7. any of the courses of study continuing through succeeding grades in an educational structure (tracking), arranged according to various levels of mastery, to which students are assigned on the basis of test performance, abilities, needs, etc.

8. a pair of parallel metal rails, with their crossties, etc., on which trains, streetcars, etc. run

☆ 9. the distance between the centers of the tread of parallel wheels, as of an automobile

10. either of the two endless belts with which tanks, some tractors, etc. are equipped for moving over rough ground

11.

a) the narrow channel, containing lengthwise copper wires or strips carrying electric current, into which track lights are inserted

b) any of various structural channels or grooves, as one that holds a sliding door or window

12. the tread of an automobile tire

13.

☆ a) athletic sports performed on a track, as running, hurdling, etc.

b) track and field sports together

14.

a) SOUNDTRACK

b) any of the separate divisions on a phonograph record, compact disc, etc. containing individual selections

c) any of the separate, parallel recording surfaces extending along the length of a magnetic tape

d) the long continuous spiral groove on a phonograph record in which a stylus moves

e) in a computer, that part of a magnetic drum, tape, or disk that passes under a given reading head position

15. Film TRACKING SHOT

vt.

1.

a) to follow the track or footprints of [to track game]

b) to follow (a path, etc.)

2. to trace by means of vestiges, evidence, etc.

3. to plot the path of and record data from (an aircraft, spacecraft, missile, etc.) using radar, a telescope, etc.

4. to tread or travel

5.

a) to leave tracks or footprints on (often with up)

☆ b) to leave in the form of tracks [to track dirt over a floor ]

☆ 6. to provide with tracks or rails

7. Film to follow (a moving object or person) with a moving camera

vi.

1. to run in the same (width) track

2. to be in alignment, as gears, wheels, or the stylus of a phonograph cartridge with a groove on a record

3. to have a (specified) width between the wheels [a narrow-gauge car tracks less than 56 inches]

4. Film to track a moving object: said of a camera or its operator

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☆ (dead) in one's tracks

abruptly, as from being stunned or otherwise rendered unable to proceed [his insult stopped me in my tracks]

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keep track of

to keep an account of; stay informed about

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lose track of

to fail to keep informed about; lose sight or knowledge of

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☆ make tracks

Informal to proceed or depart hurriedly

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on the track or off the track

keeping to (or straying from) the subject, objective, or goal

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☆ the wrong side of the tracks

that part of a community where those considered socially and culturally inferior live

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track down

1. to pursue until caught, as by following tracks

2. to investigate fully or search for until found

tracker

n.