Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary полностью

5 N‑PLURAL Tracks are marks left in the ground by the feet of animals or people. □  The only evidence of pandas was their tracks in the snow.

6 VERB If you track animals or people, you try to follow them by looking for the signs that they have left behind, for example the marks left by their feet. □ [V n] He thought he had better track this wolf and kill it.

7 VERB To track someone or something means to follow their movements by means of a special device, such as a satellite or radar. □ [V n] Our radar began tracking the jets.

8 VERB If you track someone or something, you investigate them, because you are interested in finding out more about them. □ [V n] If it's possible, track the rumour back to its origin.

9 N‑COUNT In a school, a track is a group of children of the same age and ability who are taught together. [AM ] in BRIT, use stream 10 VERB To track students means to divide them into groups according to their ability. [AM ] □ [be V -ed] Students are already being tracked. [Also V n] in BRIT, use stream ●  track|ing N‑UNCOUNT □  Tracking assigns some students to college prep and others to vocational programs.

11 → see also backtrack , fast track , racetrack , sidetrack , soundtrack , title track

12 PHRASE If someone covers their tracks , they hide or destroy evidence of their identity or their actions, because they want to keep them secret. □  He covered his tracks, burnt letters and diaries.

13 PHRASE If you say that someone has the inside track , you mean that they have an advantage, for example special knowledge about something. [mainly AM , JOURNALISM ] □  Denver has the inside track among 10 sites being considered.

14 PHRASE If you keep track of a situation or a person, you make sure that you have the newest and most accurate information about them all the time. □  With eleven thousand employees, it's very difficult to keep track of them all.

15 PHRASE If you lose track of someone or something, you no longer know where they are or what is happening. □  You become so deeply absorbed in an activity that you lose track of time.

16 PHRASE If you make tracks , you leave the place where you are, especially when you are in a hurry. [INFORMAL ] □  We'd better make tracks soon, hadn't we?

17 PHRASE If someone or something is on track , they are acting or progressing in a way that is likely to result in success. □  It may take some time to get the economy back on track.

18 PHRASE If you are on the track of someone or something, you are trying to find them, or find information about them. □  He was on the track of an escaped criminal.

19 PHRASE If you are on the right track , you are acting or progressing in a way that is likely to result in success. If you are on the wrong track , you are acting or progressing in a way that is likely to result in failure. □  Guests are returning in increasing numbers–a sure sign that we are on the right track. □  The country was headed on the wrong track, economically.

20 PHRASE If someone or something stops you in your tracks , or if you stop dead in your tracks , you suddenly stop moving because you are very surprised, impressed, or frightened. □  The thought almost stopped me dead in my tracks.

21 PHRASE If someone or something stops a process or activity in its tracks , or if it stops dead in its tracks , they prevent the process or activity from continuing. □  U.S. manufacturers may find the export boom stopping dead in its tracks.

22off the beaten track → see beaten