Definition of “track” - English Dictionary

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“track” in English

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tracknoun

uk ​ /træk/ us ​ /træk/

track noun (PATH)

C1 [ C or U ] the pair of long metal bars fixed on the ground at an equal distance from each other, along which trains travel:

a ten-mile stretch of track
Passengers are requested not to walk across the tracks.

B1 [ C ] UK a path or rough road that is made of soil rather than having a surface covered with stone or other material:

The house is at the end of a dirt/an unmade track.

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track noun (SPORT)

B1 [ C ] a type of path or road, often in the shape of a ring, that has been specially designed and built for sports events, especially racing:

an all-weather track
a dog/horse track
The runners are now on their final lap of the track.
See also
racetrack

B2 [ U ] US a sport in which people compete with each other by running a race on a specially prepared circular path:

a track event
Sam runs track on the high school team.

› [ U ] US also track and field, UK athletics the general name for a particular group of sports in which people compete, including running, jumping, and throwing

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track noun (MARKS)

B2 [ C usually plural ] a mark or line of marks left on the ground or on another surface by an animal, person, or vehicle that has moved over it, showing the direction they moved in:

Police found tyre tracks in the mud.
The hunters followed the tracks of the deer for hours.
The burglars were careful not to leave any tracks behind them.
be on the track of sb/sth

› to be examining marks or pieces of information that show where a person or animal has gone, in order to catch him, her, or it:

The police are on the track of the killer.

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track noun (DIRECTION)

› [ C ] the direction that something has taken or will take through the air:

People living in the track of the hurricane have been advised to leave their homes until it has passed.

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track noun (DEVELOPMENT)

C2 [ C or U ] the direction in which someone's job or education develops:

She was a lawyer, but then she changed track completely and became a doctor.

› [ C usually singular ] the way in which a thought or idea has developed or might develop:

I found it difficult to follow the track of his argument.
get off the track

› to start talking about something that is not part of what you should be talking about:

I think we're getting off the track here - we're supposed to be discussing our advertising campaign.

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track noun (STUDENTS)

› US UK stream a group of school students with similar ability who are approximately the same age and are taught together:

Students who do well in their 8th grade classes will qualify for the honors track in high school.
the top/bottom track

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track noun (MUSIC)

B2 [ C ] one of several songs or pieces of music on a CD or other musical recording:

The album includes four previously unreleased tracks.
See also
soundtrack

› [ C ] a part of a magnetic strip onto which sound can be recorded, with several tracks on one magnetic strip:

When a piece of music is recorded, each instrument is recorded separately on a 24 or 48–track tape.

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Idiom(s)

be on the right/wrong track
in your tracks
keep track
lose track
make tracks
on track

trackverb

uk ​ /træk/ us ​ /træk/

track verb (FOLLOW)

C2 [ T ] to follow a person or animal by looking for proof that they have been somewhere, or by using electronic equipment:

It's difficult to track an animal over stony ground.
The military use radar satellites to track targets through clouds and at night.
The terrorists were tracked to (= found in) Amsterdam.
See also
backtrack
sidetrack

C2 [ T ] to record the progress or development of something over a period:

The study tracked the careers of 1,226 doctors who trained at the Medical School.

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track verb (MOVE)

› [ I ] If a film or video camera tracks in a particular direction, it moves along while it is filming:

The movie ends with a long tracking shot around the deserted house.

› [ I ] specialized media If a moving part of a recording machine tracks, it gets into the correct position for operating:

Our VCR tracks automatically.

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track verb (FINANCE)

› [ T ] to follow the level of an interest rate, share price, etc.:

The mortgage deal will track the Bank of England base rate plus 0.75 percent.
Tony is putting £500 a month into a a savings account that tracks the FTSE All-Share index.

Phrasal verb(s)

track sth/sb down

(Definition of “track” from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

“track” in American English

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tracknoun

us ​ /træk/

track noun (PATH)

› [ C ] a path that is narrower than a road, often with an uneven surface:

We walked along a muddy track at the side of the field.

› [ C ] A track is also one or a pair of parallel metal bars on which trains travel.

track noun (MARKS)

› [ C usually pl ] a mark or line of marks left on a surface, esp. the ground, by a moving animal, person, or vehicle, that shows the direction of travel:

deer tracks in the snow

track noun (SPORTS)

› [ C/U ] the sport of competitive running, or a wide, circular path that is made for this sport:

[ U ] Fall sports include football, hockey, and track.

› [ C/U ] A track is also a specially prepared surface for any kind of racing:

[ C ] a dog/thoroughbred track

track noun (MUSIC)

› [ C ] one of several songs or pieces of music on a musical recording

Idiom(s)

on track
on the right track
on the wrong track

trackverb [ T ]

us ​ /træk/

track verb [ T ] (MAKE MARKS)

› to follow something that moves or changes by noticing marks or signs that it has left behind:

The study tracked the careers of 1226 doctors who trained at Harvard Medical School.

› If you track something messy or dirty, you leave messy or dirty marks when walking because you had something on your shoes or feet:

The kids are always tracking mud in the kitchen.

Phrasal verb(s)

track down someone/something

(Definition of “track” from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

“track” in Business English

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tracknoun [ C ]

uk ​ /træk/ us ​

› the direction that something has taken or in which it is moving:

They are able to forecast the track of the storm days in advance.

› the way in which something develops or might develop:

on the right/wrong track We believe we are on the right track to grow the business in the coming months.

› the type of education or career someone chooses and the way it develops:

She was a lawyer, but then she changed track completely and became a doctor.
Students perform better once engaged in a career track with clear expectations of what it takes to get a job.
a vocational/academic track

› the way in which a thought or idea has developed or might develop:

I found it difficult to follow the track of his argument.
keep track (of sth)

› to keep a record of something, or make certain that you know or remember what has happened:

Keep track of the hours you work.
His job is to keep track of all the shipments going out to customers.
lose track (of sth)

› to stop keeping a record of something, or stop being certain that you know or remember what has happened:

I have lost track of the number of times you have been late this month.
So many customers came in that I lost track after an hour.
on track

› making progress and likely to succeed or achieve a particular thing:

They're on track to make record profits.

See also

fast track
have the inside track

trackverb

uk ​ /træk/ us ​

› [ T ] to follow the movement or progress of something or someone:

The company set up a database to help track sales across the country.
Investigators are tracking streams of the contaminated food through several states.

› [ T ] to record the progress or development of something over a period:

We have been tracking the trends in computer sales for over ten years.
The study tracked the careers of 1226 doctors who trained at the University of Michigan Medical School.

› [ T ] BANKING, FINANCE to follow the level of an interest rate:

The mortgage deal will track the Bank of England base rate plus 0.75 pc.

› [ T ] FINANCE, STOCK MARKET to follow the level of a particular share index:

Tony is putting £500 a month into a savings account which tracks the FTSE All-Share index.

Phrasal verb(s)

track sb/sth down

(Definition of “track” from the Cambridge Business English Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

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