track¹ / trak/ • n. 1. a rough path or minor road, typically one beaten by use rather than constructed: follow the track to the farm a forest track. ∎  a prepared course or circuit for athletes, horses, motor vehicles, bicycles, or dogs to race on: a Formula One Grand Prix track. ∎  the sport of running on such a track. ∎  (usu. tracks) a mark or line of marks left by a person, animal, or vehicle in passing: he followed the tracks made by the police cars in the snow. ∎  the course or route followed by someone or something (used esp. in talking about their pursuit by others): I didn't want the Russians on my track. ∎ fig. a course of action; a way of proceeding: defense budgeting and procurement do not move along different tracks from defense policy as a whole.2. a continuous line of rails on a railroad. ∎  a metal or plastic strip or rail from which a curtain or spotlight may be hung or fitted. ∎  a continuous articulated metal band around the wheels of a heavy vehicle such as a tank or bulldozer, intended to facilitate movement over rough or soft ground. ∎  Electr. a continuous line of copper or other conductive material on a printed circuit board, used to connect parts of a circuit. ∎  Sailing a strip on the mast, boom, or deck of a yacht along which a slide attached to a sail can be moved, used to adjust the position of the sail.3. a section of a record, compact disc, or cassette tape containing one song or piece of music: the CD contains early Elvis Presley tracks. ∎  a lengthwise strip of magnetic tape containing one sequence of signals. ∎  the soundtrack of a film or video.4. the transverse distance between a vehicle's wheels.5. a group in which schoolchildren of the same age and ability are taught.• v. [tr.] 1. follow the course or trail of (someone or something), typically in order to find them or note their location at various points: secondary radars that track the aircraft in flight he tracked Anna to her room. ∎ fig. follow and note the course or progress of: they are tracking the girth and evolution of stars. ∎  [intr.] follow a particular course: the storm was tracking across the ground at 30 mph. ∎  (of a stylus) follow (a groove in a record). ∎  [intr.] (of a film or television camera) move in relation to the subject being filmed: the camera eventually tracked away. ∎  (track something up) leave a trail of dirty footprints on a surface. ∎  (track something in) leave a trail of dirt, debris, or snow from one's feet: the road salt I'd tracked in from the street.2. [intr.] (of wheels) run so that the back ones are exactly in the track of the front ones.3. [intr.] Electr. (of a tunable circuit or component) vary in frequency in the same way as another circuit or component, so that the frequency difference between them remains constant.4. assign (a student) to a course of study according to ability.PHRASES: in one's tracks inf. where one or something is at that moment; suddenly: Turner immediately stopped dead in his tracks.keep (or lose) track of keep (or fail to keep) fully aware of or informed about: she had lost all track of time and had fallen asleep.make tracks (for) inf. leave hurriedly (for a place).off the beaten tracksee beaten.off the track departing from the right course of thinking or behavior.on the right (or wrong) track acting or thinking in a way that is likely to result in success (or failure): we are on the right track for continued growth.on track acting or thinking in a way that is likely to achieve what is required: formulas for keeping the economy on track.the wrong (or right) side of the tracks inf. a poor, less prestigious (or wealthy, prestigious) part of town.PHRASAL VERBS: track someone/something down find someone or something after a thorough or difficult search.track up (of a horse at the trot) create sufficient impulsion in its hindquarters to cause the hind feet to step on to or slightly ahead of the former position of the forefeet.track² • v. [tr.] tow (a boat) along a waterway from the bank.