Trace

The word trace has several meanings:

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• in linear algebra, the trace of a square matrix A is the sum of its main diagonal elements. One can also define the trace of a linear transformation.
• in functional analysis, a trace is a generalization of a trace of a matrix over the orthonormal bases of a Hilbert space. See trace class.
• in field theory, see field trace.
• in semiology a trace is the physical and material result of poietic processes, the "message" made by a "producer" and interpreted by esthesic processes of a receiver (see esthesic and poietic). It exists and is analyzed on the neutral level.
• in linguistics, a trace is a notional "ghost" of a syntactic entity that can be regarded as being in an utterance for the purposes of syntactic analysis. It is the result of the movement of a linguistic expression from its position in deep structure during transformation.
• in deconstruction, a trace is the self-effacing signified that a sign differs and defers from.
• in computer chess, trace is a chess engine.
• in transport a trace is one of two, or more, straps, ropes or chains by which a carriage or wagon, or the like, is drawn by a harness horse or other draught animal. This definition results in the saying: to kick over the traces.
• in computer science, a trace is a detailed record of the steps a computer program executes during its execution, used as an aid in debugging. One such type of trace is a stack trace.
 
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