A track or mark left by something that has passed.

Roget 551: trace, vestige, relic, remains; scar, cicatrix; footstep, footmark^†, footprint; pug; track mark, wake, trail, scent, piste^†.    monument, hatchment^†, slab, tablet, trophy, achievement; obelisk, pillar, column, monolith; memorial; memento etc. (memory) 505; testimonial, medal; commemoration etc. (celebration) 883.    record, note, minute; register, registry; roll etc. (list) 86; cartulary, diptych, Domesday book; catalogue raisonne [Fr.]; entry, memorandum, indorsement^†, inscription, copy, duplicate, docket; notch etc. (mark) 550; muniment^†, deed etc. (security) 771; document; deposition, proces verbal [Fr.]; affidavit; certificate etc. (evidence) 467.    notebook, memorandum book, memo book, pocketbook, commonplace book; portfolio; pigeonholes, excerpta^†, adversaria [Lat.], jottings, dottings^†.    gazette, gazetteer; newspaper, daily, magazine; almanac, almanack^†; calendar, ephemeris, diary, log, journal, daybook, ledger; cashbook^†, petty cashbook^†; professional journal, scientific literature, the literature, primary literature, secondary literature, article, review article.    archive, scroll, state paper, return, blue book; statistics etc. 86; compte rendu [Fr.]; Acts of, Transactions of, Proceedings of; Hansard's Debates; chronicle, annals, legend; history, biography etc. 594; Congressional Records.    registration; registry; enrollment, inrollment^†; tabulation; entry, booking; signature etc. (identification) 550; recorder etc. 553; journalism.    [analog recording media] recording, tape recording, videotape.    [digital recording media] compact disk; floppy disk, diskette; hard disk, Winchester disk; read-only memory, ROM; write once read mostly memory, WORM.    ... show more

Roget 398: odor, smell, odorament^†, scent, effluvium; emanation, exhalation; fume, essence, trail, nidor^†, redolence.    sense of smell; scent; act of smelling etc. v.; olfaction, olfactories^†.    [pleasant odor] fragrance etc. 400.    odorant.    [animal with acute sense of smell] bloodhound, hound.    [smell detected by a hound] spoor.    ... show more

Roget 65: sequel, suffix, successor; tail, queue, train, wake, trail, rear; retinue, suite; appendix, postscript; epilogue; peroration; codicil; continuation, sequela^†; appendage; tail piece [Fr.], heelpiece^†; tag, more last words; colophon.    aftercome^†, aftergrowth^†, afterpart^†, afterpiece^†, aftercourse^†, afterthought, aftergame^†; arriere pensee [Fr.], second thoughts; outgrowth.    ... show more

Dutch: spoor

A path or track roughly blazed through wild or hilly country.

Dutch: pad, spoor

Evidence pointing to a possible solution:
— The trail led straight to the perpetrator.

synonyms: lead, track.

To lag or linger behind.

synonyms: drag, drop back, drop behind, get behind, hang back.

Roget 214: be pendent etc. adj.; hang, depend, swing, dangle; swag; daggle^†, flap, trail, flow; beetle.    suspend, hang, sling, hook up, hitch, fasten to, append.    ... show more

Roget 275: move slowly etc. adv.; creep, crawl, lag, slug, drawl, linger, loiter, saunter; plod, trudge, stump along, lumber; trail, drag; dawdle etc. (be inactive) 683; grovel, worm one's way, steal along; job on, rub on, bundle on; toddle, waddle, wabble^†, slug, traipse, slouch, shuffle, halt, hobble, limp, caludicate^†, shamble; flag, falter, trotter, stagger; mince, step short; march in slow time, march in funeral procession; take one's time; hang fire etc. (be late) 133.    retard, relax; slacken, check, moderate, rein in, curb; reef; strike sail, shorten sail, take in sail; put on the drag, apply the brake; clip the wings; reduce the speed; slacken speed, slacken one's pace; lose ground.    ... show more

Go after with the intent to catch.

synonyms: chase, chase after, dog, give chase, go after, tag, tail, track.

Roget 461: make inquiry etc. n.; inquire, ask, seek, search.    look for, look about for, look out for; scan, reconnoiter, explore, sound, rummage, ransack, pry, peer, look round; look over, go over, look through, go through; spy, overhaul.    [object is a topic] ask about, inquire about.    scratch the head, slap the forehead.    look into every hole and corner, peer into every hole and corner, pry into every hole and corner; nose; trace up; search out, hunt down, hunt out, fish out, ferret out; unearth; leave no stone unturned.    seek a clue, seek a clew; hunt, track, trail, mouse, dodge, trace; follow the trail, follow the scent; pursue etc. 662; beat up one's quarters; fish for; feel for etc. (experiment) 463.    investigate; take up an inquiry, institute an inquiry, pursue an inquiry, follow up an inquiry, conduct an inquiry, carry on an inquiry, carry out an inquiry, prosecute an inquiry etc. n.; look at, look into; preexamine; discuss, canvass, agitate.    [inquire into a topic] examine, study, consider, calculate; dip into, dive into, delve into, go deep into; make sure of, probe, sound, fathom; probe to the bottom, probe to the quick; scrutinize, analyze, anatomize, dissect, parse, resolve, sift, winnow; view in all its phases, try in all its phases; thresh out.    bring in question, bring into question, subject to examination; put to the proof etc. (experiment) 463; audit, tax, pass in review; take into consideration etc. (think over) 451; take counsel etc. 695.    question, demand; put the question, pop the question, propose the question, propound the question, moot the question, start the question, raise the question, stir the question, suggest the question, put forth the question, ventilate the question, grapple with the question, go into a question.    [human object], question, put to the question, interrogate, pump; subject to interrogation, subject to examination; cross-question, cross-examine; press for an answer; give the third degree; put to the inquisition; dodge^†.    catechize.    require an answer; pick the brains of, suck the brains of; feel the pulse.    get the lay of the land; see how the wind is blowing; put one's ear to the ground.    be in question etc. adj.; undergo examination.    ... show more

Dutch: najagen, achterna zitten, jacht, achtervolgen

Move, proceed, or walk draggingly or slowly:
— John trailed behind his class mates.
— The Mercedes trailed behind the horse cart.

synonym: shack.

Hang down so as to drag along the ground.

Drag loosely along a surface; allow to sweep the ground:
— The toddler was trailing his pants.

synonym: train.

Roget 285: draw, pull, haul, lug, rake, drag, tug, tow, trail, train; take in tow.    wrench, jerk, twitch, touse^†; yank [U.S.].    ... show more