track
track — verb
1. To pursue and locate someone or something by interpreting physical clues such as
To pursue and locate someone or something by interpreting physical clues such as footprints, marks, or other signs left behind along their path.
The search party tracked the lost hiker through the forest for two days before finding her.
track + person through [location]
Using broken branches and footprints in the mud, the ranger tracked the bear back to its cave.
track + animal using [evidence]
Police dogs tracked the suspect's scent across several blocks of the city.
Feng tracked the deer by following its hoof prints through the snowy field.
The hunters used dogs to track the rabbit into the thick forest.
文法句型
track + noun phrase (person/animal)
用法筆記
The object of this sense is typically a living being (person or animal) whose location is discovered through physical clues such as footprints, broken branches, scent, or disturbed ground. This is the most concrete sense of 'track', used in hunting, search-and-rescue, and police investigation contexts.
2. To rely on GPS, radar, barcode systems, or similar technology to follow and show
To rely on GPS, radar, barcode systems, or similar technology to follow and show where a person, vehicle, or package is while it moves.
Camille tracked her online order from the warehouse all the way to her front door.
track + package/order using tracking number
Air traffic controllers track every plane that enters their airspace.
The app lets you track your bus in real time so you know when it will arrive.
Niran tracked the delivery van using a GPS device installed inside the vehicle.
文法句型
track + noun phrase (package/vehicle/person)
用法筆記
The subject is often a system, device, or person using technology. This sense is very common in everyday contexts such as package delivery, public transport apps, and ride-sharing services.
常見錯誤
3. To carefully watch and write down how something develops or changes over a perio
To carefully watch and write down how something develops or changes over a period of time, often to learn from the information.
Scientists track ocean temperatures every year to study the effects of climate change.
track + data over time to study change
The company tracks its sales figures each month to see which products are selling well.
Doctors track a baby's growth by measuring its height and weight at each checkup.
Cole tracked his daily spending for a month to understand where his money went.
文法句型
track + noun phrase (progress/development/data)
用法筆記
This sense often appears in contexts of science, business, health, and personal finance. The object is typically a process, metric, or set of data points, not a physical moving thing.
4. (Of a motion-picture or television camera) to glide smoothly alongside or toward
(Of a motion-picture or television camera) to glide smoothly alongside or toward whatever is being filmed, producing a flowing uninterrupted shot.
The camera tracked slowly alongside the running horse during the race scene.
camera + tracks + alongside [subject]
In the opening shot, the camera tracks backward as the actress walks toward the house.
The director asked the operator to track the camera to the left to follow the children playing.
Gabriel watched the camera track along the shelf of old books, each title coming briefly into view.
文法句型
camera + tracks + adverb/preposition (along/past/toward)
用法筆記
The subject is always a camera or filming device. This is a technical term used in filmmaking and video production. 'Track' in this sense is intransitive — you say 'the camera tracks' without a direct object.
5. (Of a moving part in a recording, reading, or playback device) to follow a groov
(Of a moving part in a recording, reading, or playback device) to follow a groove or path accurately, settling at the right spot so the equipment works as intended.
The laser in the CD player tracked across the surface of the disc to read the music data.
laser/needle + tracks across [surface]
When Emma placed the record on the turntable, the needle tracked smoothly along the groove.
If the disc is scratched, the reading head may fail to track properly and skip.
The old tape player still worked, and the playback head tracked the magnetic strip without any problems.
文法句型
moving part + tracks + preposition
用法筆記
This sense is mainly used in technical descriptions of recording and playback equipment. It appears most often in manuals, repair guides, or discussions of audio/video hardware, and is rarely used in everyday conversation.
6. To watch and record the changing level or value of financial indicators — for ex
To watch and record the changing level or value of financial indicators — for example, interest rates, share prices, or market trends.
Andrew tracks the stock market every morning to decide which shares to buy or sell.
track + stock market / share price
The website tracks changes in interest rates across more than fifty different banks.
Investors track the price of gold closely because it affects the value of their savings.
Rania tracked the exchange rate for weeks before changing her money into euros.
文法句型
track + noun phrase (price/rate/trend)
用法筆記
The object is always a financial metric — interest rate, share price, exchange rate, market index, or similar. This sense is used both by professionals (analysts, traders) and by ordinary people managing personal finances.
7. to put school students into separate classes or groups based on how well they pe
to put school students into separate classes or groups based on how well they perform in their studies, so that each group can learn at a pace that suits them
The school tracks students by reading level from the first grade onwards.
collocation: be tracked by [ability level]
Critics argue that tracking students reduces their chances to learn from classmates of different levels.
collocation: track students by [criterion]
After being tracked into the advanced math group, Kemi felt more challenged in her lessons.
Selim's school stopped tracking students because teachers said it created gaps between groups.
Some teachers believe tracking helps them give the right level of work to each group.
- mainstream
to place students of all abilities together in the same class rather than separating them
文法句型
track + object
track + object + by/into/according to [criterion]
be tracked + into/by
8. to bring dirt, mud, water, or another substance into a clean area on your shoes
to bring dirt, mud, water, or another substance into a clean area on your shoes or feet, leaving marks or mess behind you as you walk
Wipe your feet, or you will track mud across the kitchen floor.
collocation: track mud across/onto [surface]
The children tracked sand all through the house after their day at the beach.
Nellie asked her guests to remove their boots to avoid tracking dirt onto the floor.
The dog ran inside and tracked wet paw prints across the living room rug.
Ishaan's work boots tracked dark mud from the garden to the front door.
文法句型
track + object + prepositional phrase
track + prepositional phrase
track + adverb
用法筆記
Frequently used with prepositions such as 'in', 'across', 'onto', and 'through' to indicate the surface that becomes dirty.
常見錯誤
track — noun
1. the two steel rails laid on the ground for trains to run on, or a numbered waiti
the two steel rails laid on the ground for trains to run on, or a numbered waiting area at a station where a train stops
Workers had to close the railway while they repaired the track near Paddington Station.
collocation: repair the track
The express to Edinburgh is waiting at track 12 — please move towards the blue signs.
Christopher noticed that the old tracks behind the factory had rusted from years of rain.
A cow walked onto the track just before the evening train arrived, causing an accident.
2. a narrow unpaved route through the countryside, formed by people or animals walk
a narrow unpaved route through the countryside, formed by people or animals walking the same way many times
A muddy track behind the village leads to an old stone church on the hill.
We followed a winding dirt track through the forest until we reached a clear stream.
collocation: dirt track
The farmer drove his tractor along a narrow track between the wheat fields.
Heavy rain turned the forest track into a muddy stream that was hard to cross.
用法筆記
Often describes an unpaved route in rural or wooded areas, not a road built with stone or concrete.
常見錯誤
3. a circular course built for racing, with a surface suited to runners, horses, or
a circular course built for racing, with a surface suited to runners, horses, or vehicles
The horses galloped around the dirt track for the final lap of the race.
collocation: around the track
Putri watched the racing cars speed past her seat near the main track.
Noa felt his heart pound as he stepped onto the track for the final race.
The race officials inspected the track carefully before allowing the cars to start.
4. a form of athletics in which runners race each other on an oval course at set di
a form of athletics in which runners race each other on an oval course at set distances
Lara joined the track team and now runs fifteen hundred metres every afternoon.
collocation: track team
Rin prefers track to field events because she loves sprinting on the oval course.
Sofia qualified for the national track championships after winning her regional heat.
Track requires months of daily practice to build speed and endurance.
- running
broader term that includes road running and trail running
用法筆記
Uncountable when referring to the sport ('she does track'). Countable when referring to the physical course.
5. a group of sports that includes running races, jumping over bars or pits, and th
a group of sports that includes running races, jumping over bars or pits, and throwing objects such as javelins or shot puts
Anya broke the school record in three track events last season, including the long jump.
track events (running, jumping, throwing)
The state track and field championships will be held at the university stadium next month.
Christopher won a silver medal in the track competition for the high jump.
Many colleges offer scholarships to students who excel in track and field.
- track and field
the full name for this group of sports
- athletics
British English equivalent; also includes road running and cross-country
用法筆記
In American English, 'track' alone can refer to all track-and-field sports. In British English, 'athletics' is the preferred term.
6. a visible sign pressed into a surface when a person, animal, or vehicle passes o
a visible sign pressed into a surface when a person, animal, or vehicle passes over it, often indicating the route taken
Reuben found fresh bear tracks in the mud near the mountain campsite.
collocation: bear tracks / animal tracks
The police officer examined the tyre tracks left by the escaping car in the field.
The hikers followed the deer tracks through the snow until they reached the lake.
No one could tell whose tracks those were because the rain had washed them away.
用法筆記
Usually plural when referring to a series of marks. Singular 'track' is rare for a single footprint; 'footprint' is more natural for one mark.
常見錯誤
7. the process of searching for evidence left behind by someone or something in ord
the process of searching for evidence left behind by someone or something in order to find them
The police were on the track of the thief after finding footprints near the window.
on the track of — pursuing clues to find someone
The hunters followed the track of the deer through the forest for several hours.
follow the track of + [animal]
The rescue team was on the track of the lost climbers when the storm arrived.
Dylan carefully studied the track of the bear in the soft mud beside the river.
文法句型
on the track of + [person/animal]
lose/follow the track of + [person/animal]
用法筆記
Frequently used in fixed phrases such as 'on the track of' or 'follow the track of' when referring to finding a person or animal.
8. the route or line along which a moving object travels, particularly through the
the route or line along which a moving object travels, particularly through the sky or air
The satellite changed its track to avoid a piece of space debris.
change track — alter the course of a moving object
Leo watched the track of the shooting star until it disappeared behind the clouds.
The storm's track shifted northward during the night, surprising weather forecasters.
The pilot adjusted the plane's track to avoid the thunderstorm ahead.
- course
broader term for any direction of movement; less tied to aerial motion
- path
more general; 'track' often implies a plotted or recorded trajectory
- trajectory
more technical; used in physics and ballistics
文法句型
change track
track of + [moving object]
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 7 (MARKS): sense 8 describes the path of something currently moving, not the act of following past signs.
9. the way that a person's professional life or studies progress over time
the way that a person's professional life or studies progress over time
After the coding course, Lara's career track shifted from design to software engineering.
career track — the direction of professional development
Trang chose an academic track that focused on environmental science rather than business.
academic track — a chosen field of study at university level
Young professionals today often switch tracks several times before settling into one field.
Gabriel is on a fast track to becoming a partner at the law firm.
- path
more general; 'track' emphasizes a structured, predefined route
- route
suggests a specific plan; 'track' is more about the direction of development
- trajectory
more formal; often used for the arc of a career over time
文法句型
career track
academic track
on a ... track
用法筆記
Common in compound phrases such as 'career track', 'fast track', and 'academic track'. Usually implies a structured or deliberate progression rather than random job changes.
常見錯誤
10. the order or development of a thought, concept, or connected series of happening
the order or development of a thought, concept, or connected series of happenings as they unfold
Keep track of my argument as I explain it, and you will see how I reached this conclusion.
keep track of — follow the logical progression of an argument
Sora lost track of the conversation when the topic moved to international finance.
lose track of — become unable to follow the progression
The documentary presents a clear track of events that led to the discovery.
Dewi kept me on track throughout her speech, starting with the problem and ending with a solution.
- train of thought
more common for mental progression; 'track' can also refer to events
- sequence
more neutral; 'track' implies following a connected chain
- progression
more formal; focuses on forward movement rather than connectedness
文法句型
lose track of + [thought/conversation]
line of reasoning/argument
chain of events
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 9 (CAREER PATH): sense 10 refers to the unfolding of thoughts or events, not of a career. Often used with 'lose track of' to mean becoming unable to follow a discussion or line of reasoning.
11. a set of linked metal plates that fits onto the wheels of heavy vehicles, allowi
a set of linked metal plates that fits onto the wheels of heavy vehicles, allowing them to move over rough ground
The tank's tracks got stuck in the mud during the military exercise.
tank tracks — continuous metal belts on military vehicles
Bulldozers with wide tracks can move across soft ground without sinking.
The mechanic inspected the tracks for any broken plates before the mission began.
Anya watched the excavator's tracks leave deep patterns in the wet soil.
- caterpillar tracks
brand name often used generically; 'tracks' is the standard term
- continuous tracks
more technical term used in engineering contexts
文法句型
tank tracks
bulldozer tracks
wide/narrow tracks
用法筆記
Usually appears in the plural form 'tracks' since the belts come as a pair (one on each side of the vehicle).
12. a group or level of classes that students are placed in according to their age a
a group or level of classes that students are placed in according to their age and academic ability
The school puts students in different tracks based on their test scores and grades.
in different tracks — grouped by ability level
Adaeze moved to a higher track in mathematics after she improved her exam results.
Critics argue that the track system limits opportunities for students in lower groups.
Tariro was placed in the advanced track for both science and history classes.
- stream
British English equivalent of 'track' in education
- set
British English term for ability-based groups within a subject
- ability group
more transparent term for the same concept
文法句型
[academic] track
in the [top/advanced/higher] track
track system
用法筆記
Chiefly used in American English education systems. In British English, 'stream' or 'set' is more common for the same concept.
常見錯誤
13. A system where students within one school are divided into groups, with each gro
A system where students within one school are divided into groups, with each group attending classes during a different period of the year so that not everyone is on holiday at once.
The school switched to a staggered-year track to reduce the number of students in the building.
collocation: staggered-year track
In the new track system, one group studies from July to October and another starts in November.
collocation: track system
Parents found it hard to plan holidays because the children were on different school schedules.
Many schools in warmer regions use a year-round track with rotating attendance blocks.
- rotating schedule
emphasises the cyclic nature of the arrangement
- staggered timetable
British English; describes the same concept
文法句型
track system
on a [adjective] track
用法筆記
This meaning is used mainly in the US school system. It is different from sense 12 (ability grouping), which groups students by skill level rather than by staggered timing.
常見錯誤
14. One complete song, piece of music, or segment of sound that appears on a CD, alb
One complete song, piece of music, or segment of sound that appears on a CD, album, film soundtrack, or other recording, usually listed as a separate item.
The final track on the album became a huge hit around the world.
collocation: final track on [album]
Liam downloaded every track from the film soundtrack to learn the guitar parts.
collocation: track from [soundtrack]
The band recorded twelve tracks for the album, but only eight made the final list.
This app lets you skip to any track without waiting for the previous one to end.
文法句型
track + on/from + [album/recording]
track + number
常見錯誤
15. A separate path, strip, or groove on a tape, disk, computer drive, or similar me
A separate path, strip, or groove on a tape, disk, computer drive, or similar medium where sound, images, or data are recorded and stored.
Old cassette tapes have four tracks, two for each direction of playback.
collocation: have [number] tracks
The engineer mixed the vocal track with the drum track to create the final song.
collocation: vocal track / drum track
A hard disk stores data on circular tracks scanned by a read head as the disk spins.
Each track on the recording tape holds a separate instrument, so the producer can adjust it later.
文法句型
[number] tracks
track + on + [medium]
vocal/instrumental track
用法筆記
This is the original technical meaning from which sense 14 (a recorded song) developed. A physical tape or disk can have multiple separate tracks side by side, each carrying its own signal.