track
noun [ C ]
uk/træk/ usthe direction that something has taken or in which it is moving:
They are able to forecast the track of the storm days in advance.
the way in which something develops or might develop:
on the right/wrong track We believe we are on the right track to grow the business in the coming months.
the type of education or career someone chooses and the way it develops:
She was a lawyer, but then she changed track completely and became a doctor.
Students perform better once engaged in a career track with clear expectations of what it takes to get a job.
a vocational/academic track
the way in which a thought or idea has developed or might develop:
I found it difficult to follow the track of his argument.
keep track (of sth)
to keep a record of something, or make certain that you know or remember what has happened:
Keep track of the hours you work.
His job is to keep track of all the shipments going out to customers.
lose track (of sth)
to stop keeping a record of something, or stop being certain that you know or remember what has happened:
I have lost track of the number of times you have been late this month.
So many customers came in that I lost track after an hour.
on track
making progress and likely to succeed or achieve a particular thing:
They're on track to make record profits.
See also
fast track
have the inside track
track
verb
uk/træk/ us [ T ]
to follow the movement or progress of something or someone:
The company set up a database to help track sales across the country.
Investigators are tracking streams of the contaminated food through several states.
[ T ]
to record the progress or development of something over a period:
We have been tracking the trends in computer sales for over ten years.
The study tracked the careers of 1226 doctors who trained at the University of Michigan Medical School.
[ T ] BANKING, FINANCE
to follow the level of an interest rate:
The mortgage deal will track the Bank of England base rate plus 0.75 pc.
[ T ] FINANCE, STOCK MARKET
to follow the level of a particular share index:
Tony is putting £500 a month into a savings account which tracks the FTSE All-Share index.
Phrasal verb
track sb/sth down