Track | Mean of track in English Dictionary

/ˈtræk/

• Noun
• a mark left on the ground by a moving animal, person, or vehicle
1. moose/tire tracks
2. Dinosaur tracks were found in the canyon.
• a path or trail that is made by people or animals walking through a field, forest, etc.
1. Follow the track into the forest.
• a pair of metal bars that a train, trolley, or subway car rides along
1. The train went off the track. = The train jumped the track.
2. We were walking beside the train/railroad tracks.

• a set of tracks at a train or subway station
1. The train to Chicago will leave track 3.
• an often circular path or road that is used for racing
1. She ran a few laps around the track before the race.
2. a dog/horse track [=a track where dog/horse races are held]
• a rod or bar that is used to hold something (such as a curtain or sliding door)
• the course along which someone or something moves or proceeds
1. the track of a storm/bullet
2. His brother and sister went to college, but he chose a different track. [=he chose to do something different]
• a course of study followed by students who have particular abilities, needs, and goals
1. students on the college track
• a song on a record, CD, etc.
1. Tracks 6 and 11 are particularly good.
2. The title track [=the song with the same title as the album] is a hit.
• a separate recording of each instrument or voice in a song
1. Increase the volume on the drum/vocal track.
• to hide anything that shows where you have been or what you have done so that no one can find or catch you
1. The culprits covered their tracks well and left little evidence at the crime scene.
• to be aware of how something is changing, what someone is doing, etc.
1. There's so much going on that it's hard to keep track.
2. It's hard to keep track of what's going on.
3. Keep track of your little brother for me, will you?
4. It's her job to keep track of how the money is spent.
5. I watch the news to keep track of current events.
• to stop being aware of how something is changing, what someone is doing, etc.
1. With so much going on, it's easy to lose track.
2. It's easy to lose track of what's going on.
3. I'm sorry I'm late. I lost track of the time.
4. We lost track of each other after high school.
• to leave a place quickly
1. Here comes your mom—I'd better make tracks.
• away from the main point, thought, etc.
1. Let's not get off track.
2. He kept the discussion from going too far off track.
• following a course that will lead to success/failure
1. Although their research is far from complete, the scientists are convinced that they are on the right track.
2. She believes that our current foreign policy is on the wrong track.
• happening the way that you expect or want things to happen
1. Are we on track with the project?
2. The project is on track.
3. I had to get my life back on track after the accident.
• the part of a town, city, etc., where poor people live
1. She fell in love with a boy from the wrong side of the tracks.
• Verb
• to follow and try to find (an animal) by looking for its tracks and other signs that show where it has gone
1. He tracked the deer for a mile.
• to follow and find (someone or something) especially by looking at evidence
1. The detectives tracked the killer to Arizona.
2. They tracked him down in Arizona.
3. Scientists tracked down the cause of the disease to a particular gene.
4. If I manage to track down [=find] those photos, I'll let you know.
• to follow or watch the path of (something)
1. The ship can track incoming missiles with radar.
2. Meteorologists are tracking the storm.
3. an electronic tracking device/system
• to watch or follow the progress of (someone or something)
1. You should start tracking [=keeping track of] your living expenses.
2. The study tracked the patients over the course of five years.
• to move in a certain way or in a certain direction
1. The boat tracks well.
2. The squadron will track north by northeast for 40 miles.
• to make marks by bringing (dirt, mud, etc.) indoors on the bottom of your feet
1. Don't you track mud into this clean kitchen!
2. The dog tracked dirt all over the floor.
• to place young students in certain classes according to their abilities and needs
1. This school does not track.
2. The school tracks [=(Brit) streams] students into “remedial,” “average,” and “gifted” classes.
• to move in a particular direction especially in a straight line
1. At the start of the movie, the camera tracks along the street to the house's front door.