Collocations for track - noun
1. marks left behind by a car/a person/an animal
ADJ.
deep | fresh | animal, boot, car, tyre
The beach is criss-crossed with animal tracks.
The beach is criss-crossed with animal tracks.
VERB + TRACK
leave, make
Rabbits had left tracks in the snow.
Rabbits had left tracks in the snow.
cover
(often figurative) He had been careless, and had done little to cover his tracks.
(often figurative) He had been careless, and had done little to cover his tracks.
follow
PREP.
on the ~ of
(often figurative) She felt the excitement of a journalist on the track of a good story.
(often figurative) She felt the excitement of a journalist on the track of a good story.
PHRASES
freeze/halt/stop in your tracks
(figurative),
(figurative),
halt/stop sb/sth in their/its tracks
(figurative) The disease was stopped in its tracks by immunization programmes.
(figurative) The disease was stopped in its tracks by immunization programmes.
make tracks
(figurative) It''s getting late - I''d better make tracks (= leave).
(figurative) It''s getting late - I''d better make tracks (= leave).
2. path/rough road
ADJ.
narrow | wide | steep | bumpy, dusty, grassy, muddy, rough, rutted, sandy, slippery, stony | ancient, medieval | cinder, dirt, mud, unpaved | cart, cycle, sheep, ski | single
a single track road with passing places
a single track road with passing places
farm, forest/forestry, hillside, mountain, woodland | perimeter
A few planes were parked on the perimeter track of the airfield.
A few planes were parked on the perimeter track of the airfield.
VERB + TRACK
follow
TRACK + VERB
lead
The track leads across a meadow.
The track leads across a meadow.
fork
When the track forks, take the left fork.
When the track forks, take the left fork.
PREP.
along/down/up a/the ~
Continue along the farm track for another hundred metres.
Continue along the farm track for another hundred metres.
PHRASES
off the beaten track
(figurative) (= not in a place that most people go to),
(figurative) (= not in a place that most people go to),
on the right/wrong track
(figurative) The new manager successfully got the team back onto the right track.
(figurative) The new manager successfully got the team back onto the right track.
on the wrong track
(figurative) The police were on the wrong track when they treated the case as a revenge killing.
(figurative) The police were on the wrong track when they treated the case as a revenge killing.
3. special path, often in a circle, for racing
ADJ.
race (also ‘racetrack’), running | indoor, outdoor | all-weather | training, warm-up | fast | dog
PHRASES
track and field
The competition features many top track and field athletes.
The competition features many top track and field athletes.
4. metal rails on which a train runs
ADJ.
rail, railway, tram | double, single | elevated | eastbound, westbound, etc. | narrow gauge, standard gauge
VERB + TRACK
lay | lift
Many branch lines were closed, and the tracks lifted.
Many branch lines were closed, and the tracks lifted.
TRACK + NOUN
layout
5. direction/course that sb/sth takes
ADJ.
fast, inside
an inside track to the ear of government
an inside track to the ear of government
parallel, twin
a twin track approach to crime
a twin track approach to crime
career
She decided to change her career track.
She decided to change her career track.
VERB + TRACK
switch
He switched tracks and went back to college.
He switched tracks and went back to college.
PREP.
along a/the ~
Film comedy developed along a similar track to film drama.
Film comedy developed along a similar track to film drama.
on (a/the) ~
A UN spokesman insisted that the implementation of the peace plan is back on track. | The ship was on a southerly track.
A UN spokesman insisted that the implementation of the peace plan is back on track. | The ship was on a southerly track.
~ for
She seems to be on the fast track for promotion.
She seems to be on the fast track for promotion.
~ to
The country is on the fast track to democracy.
The country is on the fast track to democracy.
PHRASES
keep track of sth
(= to know what is happening, where sth is, etc.) Keep track of all your payments by writing them down in a book.
(= to know what is happening, where sth is, etc.) Keep track of all your payments by writing them down in a book.
lose track of sth
(= to not know what is happening, where sth is, etc.) I was so absorbed in my work that I lost track of time.
(= to not know what is happening, where sth is, etc.) I was so absorbed in my work that I lost track of time.
6. one song/piece of music on a cassette/CD
ADJ.
album | live | title | unreleased | dance, disco | backing | drum, guitar, rhythm, solo, vocal (see also ‘soundtrack’)
VERB + TRACK
cut, lay down, record
She had already cut a couple of tracks as lead singer with her own group.
She had already cut a couple of tracks as lead singer with her own group.
play | listen to