track
♦♦ track /tr'æk/ (tracks tracking tracked)
1 [N-COUNT]
A track is a narrow road or path.
We set off once more, over a rough mountain track.
= path
2 [N-COUNT]
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.
3 [N-COUNT] usu pl
Railway tracks are the rails that a train travels along.
A woman fell on to the tracks.
4 [N-COUNT]
A track is one of the songs or pieces of music on a CD, record, or tape.
5 [N-PLURAL] oft supp N
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...
6 [VERB] V n
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...
7 [VERB] V n
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...
8 [VERB] V n
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...
9 [N-COUNT]
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)
10 [VERB] be V-ed, also V n
To track students means to divide them into groups according to their ability. (AM; in BRIT, use stream)
Students are already being tracked.
● tracking [N-UNCOUNT]
Tracking assigns some students to college prep and others to vocational programs.
11
see also backtrack, fast track, sidetrack, sidetrack, soundtrack, title track
12 [PHRASE] V inflects
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...
13 [PHRASE] V inflects
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...
14 [PHRASE] V inflects, PHR n
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...
15 [PHRASE] V inflects, PHR n
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...
16 [PHRASE] V inflects
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?
17 [PHRASE] PHR after v, v-link PHR
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...
18 [PHRASE] PHR n, usu v-link PHR
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
19 [PHRASE] v-link PHR, PHR after v
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.
20 [PHRASE] V inflects
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.
21 [PHRASE] V inflects
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.
22
off the beaten track: see beatenfast track (fast tracks fast tracking fast tracked)
also fast-track
1 [N-SING] oft N to n, N n
The fast track to a particular goal, especially in politics or in your career, is the quickest route to achieving it.
Many Croats and Slovenes saw independence as the fast track to democracy...
2 [VERB] be V-ed, V n
To fast track something means to make it happen or progress faster or earlier than normal.
A Federal Court case had been fast tracked to Wednesday...
Woodward has fast-tracked a number of youngsters into the line-up since he became coach.ti|tle track (title tracks)
[N-COUNT] usu sing
The title track on a CD, record, or tape is a song or piece of music that has the same title as the CD, record, or tape.
They come from Tuam, a place they refer to on the title track of their album, `All the Way From Tuam'.track and field
[N-UNCOUNT]
Track and field refers to athletics as opposed to other sports.track down
[PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), V n P
If you track down someone or something, you find them, or find information about them, after a difficult or long search.
She had spent years trying to track down her parents...
I don't know where that old story came from, I've never been able to track it down.track event (track events)
[N-COUNT]
A track event is an event in athletics which involves running or walking around a racetrack, in contrast to events that involve only jumping or throwing.track rec|ord (track records)
[N-COUNT] usu with supp, oft N in n, N of -ing
If you talk about the track record of a person, company, or product, you are referring to their past performance, achievements, or failures in it.
The job needs someone with a good track record in investment...
1 [N-COUNT]
A track is a narrow road or path.
We set off once more, over a rough mountain track.
= path
2 [N-COUNT]
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.
3 [N-COUNT] usu pl
Railway tracks are the rails that a train travels along.
A woman fell on to the tracks.
4 [N-COUNT]
A track is one of the songs or pieces of music on a CD, record, or tape.
5 [N-PLURAL] oft supp N
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...
6 [VERB] V n
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...
7 [VERB] V n
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...
8 [VERB] V n
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...
9 [N-COUNT]
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)
10 [VERB] be V-ed, also V n
To track students means to divide them into groups according to their ability. (AM; in BRIT, use stream)
Students are already being tracked.
● tracking [N-UNCOUNT]
Tracking assigns some students to college prep and others to vocational programs.
11
see also backtrack, fast track, sidetrack, sidetrack, soundtrack, title track
12 [PHRASE] V inflects
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...
13 [PHRASE] V inflects
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...
14 [PHRASE] V inflects, PHR n
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...
15 [PHRASE] V inflects, PHR n
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...
16 [PHRASE] V inflects
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?
17 [PHRASE] PHR after v, v-link PHR
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...
18 [PHRASE] PHR n, usu v-link PHR
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
19 [PHRASE] v-link PHR, PHR after v
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.
20 [PHRASE] V inflects
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.
21 [PHRASE] V inflects
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.
22
off the beaten track: see beatenfast track (fast tracks fast tracking fast tracked)
also fast-track
1 [N-SING] oft N to n, N n
The fast track to a particular goal, especially in politics or in your career, is the quickest route to achieving it.
Many Croats and Slovenes saw independence as the fast track to democracy...
2 [VERB] be V-ed, V n
To fast track something means to make it happen or progress faster or earlier than normal.
A Federal Court case had been fast tracked to Wednesday...
Woodward has fast-tracked a number of youngsters into the line-up since he became coach.ti|tle track (title tracks)
[N-COUNT] usu sing
The title track on a CD, record, or tape is a song or piece of music that has the same title as the CD, record, or tape.
They come from Tuam, a place they refer to on the title track of their album, `All the Way From Tuam'.track and field
[N-UNCOUNT]
Track and field refers to athletics as opposed to other sports.track down
[PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), V n P
If you track down someone or something, you find them, or find information about them, after a difficult or long search.
She had spent years trying to track down her parents...
I don't know where that old story came from, I've never been able to track it down.track event (track events)
[N-COUNT]
A track event is an event in athletics which involves running or walking around a racetrack, in contrast to events that involve only jumping or throwing.track rec|ord (track records)
[N-COUNT] usu with supp, oft N in n, N of -ing
If you talk about the track record of a person, company, or product, you are referring to their past performance, achievements, or failures in it.
The job needs someone with a good track record in investment...