An Encylopedia Britannica Company

track

1 track /ˈtræk/ noun
plural tracks
1 track
/ˈtræk/
noun
plural tracks
Britannica Dictionary definition of TRACK
[count] : a mark left on the ground by a moving animal, person, or vehicle usually plural
[count] : a path or trail that is made by people or animals walking through a field, forest, etc.
[count]
: a pair of metal bars that a train, trolley, or subway car rides along
usually plural
US : a set of tracks at a train or subway station
[count] : an often circular path or road that is used for racing
see also racetrack
[noncount] US : track and field often used before another noun see also tracksuit
[count] : a rod or bar that is used to hold something (such as a curtain or sliding door) see also track lighting
[count] : the course along which someone or something moves or proceeds
see also fast track, inside track, tenure-track
[count] US : a course of study followed by students who have particular abilities, needs, and goals
called also (British) stream
[count]
: a song on a record, CD, etc.
see also soundtrack
: a separate recording of each instrument or voice in a song see also laugh track, soundtrack

cover your tracks

: to hide anything that shows where you have been or what you have done so that no one can find or catch you

in your tracks

:
◊ If you stop or are stopped in your tracks, you stop doing something suddenly or immediately.

keep track

: to be aware of how something is changing, what someone is doing, etc.
usually + of

lose track

: to stop being aware of how something is changing, what someone is doing, etc. usually + of

make tracks

informal
: to leave a place quickly

off the beaten track

see beaten

off track

: away from the main point, thought, etc.

on the right/wrong track

: following a course that will lead to success/failure

on track

: happening the way that you expect or want things to happen : following a schedule, routine, etc.

the wrong side of the tracks

: the part of a town, city, etc., where poor people live

— trackless

/ˈtrækləs/ adjective
2 track /ˈtræk/ verb
tracks; tracked; tracking
2 track
/ˈtræk/
verb
tracks; tracked; tracking
Britannica Dictionary definition of TRACK
[+ object]
: to follow and try to find (an animal) by looking for its tracks and other signs that show where it has gone
: to follow and find (someone or something) especially by looking at evidence often + down
[+ object]
: to follow or watch the path of (something)
: to watch or follow the progress of (someone or something)
[no object] US : to move in a certain way or in a certain direction
[+ object] US : to make marks by bringing (dirt, mud, etc.) indoors on the bottom of your feet
US : to place young students in certain classes according to their abilities and needs
[no object]
[+ object]
[no object] of a movie camera or video camera : to move in a particular direction especially in a straight line

— tracker

noun, plural trackers [count]