- track
- track1 W2S2 [træk] n▬▬▬▬▬▬▬1¦(path/road)¦2¦(marks on ground)¦3¦(for racing)¦4¦(train)¦5 be on the right/wrong track6 keep/lose track of somebody/something7¦(music/song)¦8 stop/halt (dead) in your tracks9 cover your tracks10¦(sport)¦11 be on track12 get off the track13 be on the track of somebody/something14 make tracks15¦(direction)¦16¦(on a vehicle)¦▬▬▬▬▬▬▬[Date: 1400-1500; : Old French; Origin: trac]1.) ¦(PATH/ROAD)¦a narrow path or road with a rough uneven surface, especially one made by people or animals frequently moving through the same place▪ The road leading to the farm was little more than a dirt track .▪ The track led through dense forest.▪ a steep mountain track2.) ¦(MARKS ON GROUND)¦tracks [plural]a line of marks left on the ground by a moving person, animal, or vehicle▪ We followed the tyre tracks across a muddy field.▪ The tracks, which looked like a fox's, led into the woods.3.) ¦(FOR RACING)¦a circular course around which runners, cars etc race, which often has a specially prepared surface▪ To run a mile, you have to run four circuits of the track.4.) ¦(TRAIN)¦a) the two metal lines along which trains travel= ↑railway line▪ The track was damaged in several places.b) American English the particular track that a train leaves from or arrives at▪ The train for Boston is leaving from track 2.5.) be on the right/wrong trackto think in a way that is likely to lead to a correct or incorrect result▪ We've had the initial test results and it looks as though we're on the right track.6.) keep/lose track of sb/sthto pay attention to someone or something, so that you know where they are or what is happening to them, or to fail to do this▪ It's difficult to keep track of all the new discoveries in genetics.▪ I just lost all track of time .7.) ¦(MUSIC/SONG)¦▪ There's a great Miles Davis track on side two.8.) stop/halt (dead) in your tracksto suddenly stop, especially because something has frightened or surprised you9.) cover your tracksto be careful not to leave any signs that could let people know where you have been or what you have done because you want to keep it a secret, usually because it is illegal▪ He tried to cover his tracks by burning all the documents.10.)¦(SPORT)¦[U]AmEa) sport that involves running on a track▪ The next year he didn't run track or play football.▪ a famous track star▪ She went out for track in the spring (=she joined the school's track team) .11.) be on trackspoken to be likely to achieve the result you want▪ We're still on track for 10% growth.12.) get off the trackspoken to begin to deal with a new subject rather than the main one which was being discussed▪ Don't get off the track, we're looking at this year's figures not last year's.13.) be on the track of sb/sthto hunt or search for someone or something▪ Police are on the track of the bank robbers.14.) make tracksspoken used to say you must leave a place▪ It's time we started making tracks.15.) ¦(DIRECTION)¦the direction or line taken by something as it movestrack of▪ islands that lie in the track of North Atlantic storms16.) ¦(ON A VEHICLE)¦a continuous metal band that goes over the wheels of a vehicle such as a ↑bulldozer, allowing it to move over uneven groundtrack 2track2 v▬▬▬▬▬▬▬1¦(search)¦2¦(development)¦3¦(aircraft/ship)¦4¦(camera)¦5¦(school)¦6¦(mark)¦Phrasal verbstrack somebody/something<=>down▬▬▬▬▬▬▬1.) ¦(SEARCH)¦ [T]to search for a person or animal by following the marks they leave behind them on the ground, their smell etc▪ Police have been tracking the four criminals all over Central America.track sb to sth▪ The dogs tracked the wolf to its lair.2.) ¦(DEVELOPMENT)¦ [T]to record or study the behaviour or development of someone or something over time▪ The progress of each student is tracked by computer.3.) ¦(AIRCRAFT/SHIP)¦ [T]to follow the movements of an aircraft or ship by using ↑radar▪ a tracking station4.) ¦(CAMERA)¦ [I + in/out]to move a film or television camera away from or towards a scene in order to follow the action that you are recording5.) ¦(SCHOOL)¦ [T]AmE to put schoolchildren in groups according to their abilityBritish Equivalent: stream6.) ¦(MARK)¦ [T]AmE to leave behind a track of something such as mud or dirt when you walk▪ Which of you boys tracked mud all over the kitchen floor?track down [track sb/sth<=>down] phr vto find someone or something that is difficult to find by searching or looking for information in several different places▪ I finally managed to track down the book you wanted in a shop near the station.▪ Detectives had tracked her down in California.
Dictionary of contemporary English. 2013.