tracking
/ˈtræk.ɪŋ/ (bre, ipa) · [trˈækɪŋ] /ˈtræk.ɪŋ/ (ame, ipa) · [trˈækɪŋ] /ˈtra-kiŋ How to pronounce tracking (audio)/ (ame, mw)
tracking — noun
1. the use of computer systems or bar codes to check where a package, letter, or pr
the use of computer systems or bar codes to check where a package, letter, or product is during its journey from the sender to the receiver.
Online shoppers expect free tracking for every package they order, so they know when it will arrive.
The courier service provides real-time tracking, allowing customers to see exactly where their delivery is.
collocation: real-time tracking
Trang checked the tracking on her phone and saw the parcel had already left the distribution centre.
Femi entered the tracking number into the website to find out when his new laptop would be delivered.
Without proper tracking, a company can lose expensive shipments and waste time searching for them.
- package tracing
Similar meaning but often implies looking back at a past route rather than watching current progress.
- shipment monitoring
More formal, often used in logistics and business contexts.
用法筆記
The most common everyday use of 'tracking'. Usually appears in phrases like 'tracking number', 'tracking information', or 'delivery tracking'.
2. the activity of finding or following a person, animal, or vehicle — either by wa
the activity of finding or following a person, animal, or vehicle — either by watching marks left on the ground or through electronic devices like GPS.
The police used GPS tracking to follow the stolen car as it moved through three different towns.
collocation: GPS tracking
Hunters rely on animal tracking to find deer and other wildlife in the forest.
With modern satellite tracking, scientists can monitor where sea turtles travel after they lay their eggs.
Salma learned basic tracking skills in a survival course by identifying footprints in mud.
Tracker dogs are highly skilled at tracking, able to follow a scent that is several days old.
用法筆記
Can refer to either traditional methods (reading footprints, marks) or modern technology (GPS, radio tags). Distinguish from sense 1, which is limited to goods and parcels in transit.
常見錯誤
3. the activity of regularly recording and checking how something changes or develo
the activity of regularly recording and checking how something changes or develops over a period of time, for example a person's health, work performance, or spending habits.
The app includes fitness tracking that counts your daily steps and monitors your heart rate during exercise.
collocation: fitness tracking
Companies use expense tracking to record every payment their employees make on business trips.
Regular health tracking helps patients notice changes in their blood pressure or weight before they become serious.
Anjali used a simple notebook for mood tracking, writing down how she felt each morning and evening.
Project tracking software lets managers see who has finished their tasks and which jobs are behind schedule.
- monitoring
More formal; can feel more passive (watching without recording).
- logging
Focuses on the recording act; common in computing and data contexts.
用法筆記
Often combines with another noun in a compound (e.g. fitness tracking, budget tracking, time tracking). The object of tracking is typically a measurable aspect of life or work.
常見錯誤
4. the practice of placing students who have similar levels of ability into the sam
the practice of placing students who have similar levels of ability into the same class or learning group, rather than teaching all students together.
The school introduced ability tracking for maths, so advanced students could learn at a faster pace.
collocation: ability tracking
Many parents worry that tracking limits their child's chance to learn from classmates with different strengths.
After the school ended tracking, teachers found it harder to meet each student's individual needs.
Researchers disagree about whether tracking improves overall results or simply widens the gap between strong and weak students.
- streaming
More common in British English; essentially the same concept.
- ability grouping
A broader term that can include within-class grouping; tracking usually means separate classes.
- mixed-ability teaching
The opposite approach where students of all levels learn together.
用法筆記
Common in debates about education policy. Frequently used with verbs like 'introduce', 'end', 'oppose', or 'support'.
常見錯誤
5. the position of a vehicle's wheels relative to each other and the road, as well
the position of a vehicle's wheels relative to each other and the road, as well as the adjustment procedure that makes the car drive straight without leaning to one side.
When the steering wheel shakes at high speed, it is often a sign that the car needs a tracking check.
collocation: tracking check / needs a tracking
After hitting a deep pothole, Eitan took his car to the garage for a tracking adjustment.
Poor wheel tracking can cause car tyres to wear down unevenly within just a few months of driving.
The mechanic said the tracking was slightly off and fixed it in less than thirty minutes.
Wren took the van to the service centre to have the tracking checked before a long road trip.
- wheel alignment
More common in American English; identical process.
- front-end alignment
Refers specifically to the front wheels, while tracking can include all four wheels.
用法筆記
Sometimes called 'wheel alignment' or 'front-end alignment'. In British English, 'tracking' is more common; in American English, 'alignment' is preferred.