track

1. a structure consisting of a pair of parallel lines of rails with their crossties, on which a railroad train, trolley, or the like runs.
2. a wheel rut.
3. evidence, as a mark or a series of marks, that something has passed.

   Synonyms: spoor, record, trace

4. Usually tracks. footprints or other marks left by an animal, person, or vehicle:

   a lion's tracks; car tracks.

5. a path made or beaten by or as if by the feet of people or animals; trail:

   to follow the track of a murderer.

6. a line of travel or motion:

   the track of a bird.

7. a course or route followed.
8. a course of action, conduct, or procedure:

   on the right track to solve the problem.

9. a path or course made or laid out for some particular purpose.
10. a series or sequence of events or ideas.
11. something associated with making a track, as the wheel span of a vehicle or the tread of a tire.
12. a caterpillar tread.
13. Sports.
    1. a course laid out for running or racing.
    2. the group of sports performed on such a course, as running or hurdling, as distinguished from field events.
    3. both track and field events as a whole.
14. Recording.
    1. a band of recorded sound laid along the length of a magnetic tape.
    2. band ²( def 6 ).
    3. an individual song or segment of a recording:

       a title track.

    4. a discrete, separate recording that is combined with other parts of a musical recording to produce the final aural version:

       a special rhythm track added to the basic track.

15. Automotive. the distance between the centers of the treads of either the front or rear wheels of a vehicle.
16. Computers. a data-recording path on a storage medium, as a magnetic disk, tape, or drum, that is accessible to a read-write head in a given position as the medium moves past.
17. tracks, Slang. needle marks on the arm, leg, or body of a drug user caused by habitual injections.
18. sound track.
19. a metal strip or rail along which something, as lighting or a curtain, can be mounted or moved.
20. Education. a study program or level of curriculum to which a student is assigned on the basis of aptitude or need; academic course or path.

1. to follow or pursue the track, traces, or footprints of.

   Synonyms: hunt, stalk

2. to follow (a track, course, etc.).
3. to make one's way through; traverse.
4. to leave footprints on (often followed by up or on ):

   to track the floor with muddy shoes.

5. to make a trail of footprints with (dirt, snow, or the like):

   The dog tracked mud all over the living room rug.

6. to observe or monitor the course or path of (an aircraft, rocket, satellite, star, etc.), as by radar or radio signals.
7. to observe or follow the course of progress of; keep track of.
8. to furnish with a track or tracks, as for railroad trains.
9. Railroads. to have (a certain distance) between wheels, runners, rails, etc.

1. to follow or pursue a track or trail.
2. to run in the same track, as the wheels of a vehicle.
3. to be in alignment, as one gearwheel with another.
4. to have a specified span between wheels or runners:

   The car's wheels track about five feet.

5. Movies, Television. dolly ( def 12 ).
6. Recording. to follow the undulations in the grooves of a phonograph record.

verb phrase

1. to pursue until caught or captured; follow:

   to track down a killer.