Tract vs. Track: Difference and Comparison
By Muazma Batool & Muneeza Rehman — Updated on September 8, 2023
A tract is an area of land or a written work, while a track is a path or trail or a recording of music or data.
Difference Between Tract and Track
A tract primarily refers to an expanse or region of land, often large and undivided. It can also pertain to a written treatise on a particular subject. Track, meanwhile, denotes a path, road, or trail that has been forged by traveling or a line of movement.
Muazma Batool
Sep 07, 2023
In real estate and geography, the term tract can be used to describe parcels of land. On the other hand, a track might refer to a physical or marked path, like a racetrack or railway track, upon which people or vehicles move. These distinct uses highlight how tract pertains more to stationary land while track is about movement or direction.
Muazma Batool
Sep 07, 2023
From a literary standpoint, a tract can refer to a pamphlet or short written work, usually about a political or religious subject. The term track doesn't usually venture into the literary world, but in the realm of music, a track refers to a specific song or piece of audio on an album or digital playlist.
Muazma Batool
Sep 07, 2023
Tract and track also differ phonetically. The ending "t" sound in "tract" is more pronounced than in "track." Linguistically, these words come from different origins, with tract's roots lying in Latin, meaning "draw or drag," while track comes from the Old French word for "track or trail."
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 07, 2023
Tract vs. Track Comparison Chart
Secondary Meaning
A written treatise, usually on a religious subject.
A specific song or piece of audio on an album.
Muazma Batool
Sep 07, 2023
Usage Context
Real estate, geography, literature.
Transportation, music, sports.
Muazma Batool
Sep 07, 2023
Etymology
Latin origin, meaning "draw or drag."
Old French origin, meaning "track or trail."
Muazma Batool
Sep 07, 2023
Tract vs. Track Definitions
◉Tract
A written work discussing a particular subject.
She distributed religious tracts in her neighborhood.
Muazma Batool
Aug 31, 2023
◉Tract
A system of organs in the body with a common function.
The digestive tract processes food.
William
Aug 31, 2023
◉Tract
A defined area of land in housing or development.
The housing tract was newly built.
Kaitlyn
Aug 31, 2023
◉Tract
A system of organs and tissues that together perform a specialized function
the alimentary tract.
Muazma Batool
Aug 31, 2023
◉Track
A mark left by something that has passed along; as, the track, or wake, of a ship; the track of a meteor; the track of a sled or a wheel.
The bright track of his fiery car.
Muazma Batool
Aug 31, 2023
◉Track
A circular (never-ending) data storage unit on a side of magnetic or optical disk, divided into sectors.
Muazma Batool
Aug 31, 2023
◉Tract
A small booklet such as a pamphlet, often for promotional or informational uses.
Muazma Batool
Aug 31, 2023
◉Tract
(Roman Catholicism) Part of the proper of the liturgical celebration of the Eucharist for many Christian denominations, used instead of the alleluia during Lenten or pre-Lenten seasons, in a Requiem Mass, and on a few other penitential occasions.
Muazma Batool
Aug 31, 2023
◉Track
a bar or bars of rolled steel making a track along which vehicles can roll
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Aug 31, 2023
◉Track
the act of participating in an athletic competition involving running on a track
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Aug 31, 2023
◉Track
travel across or pass over;
The caravan covered almost 100 miles each day
Muazma Batool
Aug 31, 2023
◉Track
A course of action; a method of proceeding
on the right track for solving the puzzle.
Muazma Batool
Aug 31, 2023
◉Tract
Traits; features; lineaments.
The discovery of a man's self by the tracts of his countenance is a great weakness.
Muazma Batool
Aug 31, 2023
◉Track
A rail or set of parallel rails upon which railroad cars or other vehicles run.
Muazma Batool
Aug 31, 2023
◉Track
One of the concentric magnetic rings that form the separate data storage areas on a floppy disk or a hard disk.
Muneeza Rehman
Aug 31, 2023
◉Tract
A bundle of nerve fibers having a common origin, termination, and function.
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Aug 31, 2023
◉Track
(automotive) The distance between two opposite wheels on a same axletree.
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Aug 31, 2023
◉Tract
A leaflet or pamphlet containing a declaration or appeal, especially one put out by a religious or political group.
Muazma Batool
Aug 31, 2023
◉Tract
The verses from Scripture sung after the gradual in the Roman Catholic Mass during penitential seasons such as Lent or as part of a Requiem.
Muneeza Rehman
Aug 31, 2023
◉Track
(transitive) To observe the (measured) state of a person or object over time.
We will track the raven population over the next six months.
Muazma Batool
Aug 31, 2023
◉Track
(transitive) To monitor the movement of a person or object.
Agent Miles has been tracking the terrorist since Madrid.
Muazma Batool
Aug 31, 2023
◉Tract
(anatomy) A series of connected body organs, such as the digestive tract.
Muazma Batool
Aug 31, 2023
◉Track
To travel so that a moving object remains in shot.
The camera tracked the ball even as the field of play moved back and forth, keeping the action in shot the entire time.
Muazma Batool
Aug 31, 2023
◉Track
a line or route along which something travels or moves;
the hurricane demolished houses in its path
the track of an animal
the course of the river
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Aug 31, 2023
◉Track
a distinct selection of music from a recording or a compact disc;
he played the first cut on the cd
the title track of the album
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Aug 31, 2023
◉Tract
A written discourse or dissertation, generally of short extent; a short treatise, especially on practical religion.
The church clergy at that time writ the best collection of tracts against popery that ever appeared.
Muazma Batool
Aug 31, 2023
◉Track
go after with the intent to catch;
The policeman chased the mugger down the alley
the dog chased the rabbit
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Aug 31, 2023
◉Tract
A region or quantity of land or water, of indefinite extent; an area; as, an unexplored tract of sea.
A very high mountain joined to the mainland by a narrow tract of earth.
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Aug 31, 2023
◉Track
A path, route, or course indicated by such marks
an old wagon track through the mountains.
Muazma Batool
Aug 31, 2023
◉Tract
Track; trace.
Efface all tract of its traduction.
But flies an eagle flight, bold, and forthon,Leaving no tract behind.
Muazma Batool
Aug 31, 2023
◉Track
A path along which something moves; a course
following the track of an airplane on radar.
Muazma Batool
Aug 31, 2023
◉Track
Awareness of something occurring or passing
keeping track of the score.
lost all track of time.
Muazma Batool
Aug 31, 2023
◉Tract
Verses of Scripture sung at Mass, instead of the Alleluia, from Septuagesima Sunday till the Saturday befor Easter; - so called because sung tractim, or without a break, by one voice, instead of by many as in the antiphons.
Muazma Batool
Aug 31, 2023
◉Track
tracks The boundary, formerly often delineated by train tracks, that separates two neighborhoods of different social class
grew up on the wrong side of the tracks.
Muazma Batool
Aug 31, 2023
◉Track
A metal groove or ridge that holds, guides, and reduces friction for a moving device or apparatus.
Muazma Batool
Aug 31, 2023
◉Tract
a brief treatise on a subject of interest; published in the form of a booklet
Muazma Batool
Aug 31, 2023
◉Track
Any of several courses of study to which students are assigned according to ability, achievement, or needs
academic, vocational, and general tracks.
Muazma Batool
Aug 31, 2023
◉Tract
a bundle of mylenated nerve fibers following a path through the brain
Muazma Batool
Aug 31, 2023
◉Track
A distinct path, as along a length of film or magnetic tape, on which sound, images, or other information is recorded.
Muazma Batool
Aug 31, 2023
◉Tract
A major passage in the body.
The respiratory tract is vital for breathing.
Muneeza Rehman
Aug 31, 2023
◉Track
A distinct selection from an audio or video recording, usually containing an individual work or part of a larger work
the title track of an album.
Muazma Batool
Aug 31, 2023
◉Track
One of two or more separate recordings that are combined so as to be replayed simultaneously, as in stereophonic sound reproduction
mixed the vocal track and instrumental track.
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Aug 31, 2023
◉Track
To move in relation to a subject being filmed. Used of a camera or camera crew.
Muazma Batool
Aug 31, 2023
◉Track
A mark left by something that has passed along.
Follow the track of the ship.
Can you see any tracks in the snow?
Muazma Batool
Aug 31, 2023
◉Track
A mark or impression left by the foot, either of man or animal.
The fox tracks were still visible in the snow.
Muazma Batool
Aug 31, 2023
◉Track
A road or other similar beaten path.
Follow the track for a hundred metres.
Muazma Batool
Aug 31, 2023
◉Track
A path or course laid out for a race, for exercise, etc.
The athletes ran round the track.
Muazma Batool
Aug 31, 2023
◉Track
(railways) The way or rails along which a train moves. Category:en:Rail transportation
They briefly closed the railway to remove debris found on the track.
Muazma Batool
Aug 31, 2023
◉Track
Awareness of something, especially when arising from close monitoring.
Muazma Batool
Aug 31, 2023
◉Track
(music) A song or other relatively short piece of music, on a record, separated from others by a short silence.
My favourite track on the album is "Sunshine".
Muazma Batool
Aug 31, 2023
◉Track
The racing events of track and field; track and field in general.
I'm going to try out for track next week.
Muazma Batool
Aug 31, 2023
◉Track
(transitive) To match the movement or change of a person or object.
My height tracks my father's at my age, so I might end up as tall as him.
Muazma Batool
Aug 31, 2023
◉Track
(intransitive) To exhibit good cognitive function.
Is the patient tracking? Does he know where he is?
Muazma Batool
Aug 31, 2023
◉Track
(transitive) To follow the tracks of.
My uncle spent all day tracking the deer, whose hoofprints were clear in the mud.
Muazma Batool
Aug 31, 2023
◉Track
(transitive) To discover the location of a person or object by following traces.
I tracked Joe to his friend's bedroom, where he had spent the night.
Muazma Batool
Aug 31, 2023
◉Track
(transitive) To make tracks on or to leave in the form of tracks.
In winter, my cat tracks mud all over the house.
Muazma Batool
Aug 31, 2023
◉Track
To create a musical recording (a track).
Lil Kyle is gonna track with that DJ next week.
Muazma Batool
Aug 31, 2023
◉Track
To follow the tracks or traces of; to pursue by following the marks of the feet; to trace; to trail; as, to track a deer in the snow.
It was often found impossible to track the robbers to their retreats among the hills and morasses.
Muazma Batool
Aug 31, 2023
◉Track
To draw along continuously, as a vessel, by a line, men or animals on shore being the motive power; to tow.
Muazma Batool
Aug 31, 2023
◉Track
evidence pointing to a possible solution;
the police are following a promising lead
the trail led straight to the perpetrator
Muazma Batool
Aug 31, 2023
◉Track
(computer science) one of the circular magnetic paths on a magnetic disk that serve as a guide for writing and reading data
Muazma Batool
Aug 31, 2023
◉Track
A recording of a song or piece of music.
My favorite track on the album is the third one.
Muazma Batool
Aug 31, 2023
◉Track
Either of the continuous metal belts with which vehicles such as bulldozers and tanks move over the ground.
Muazma Batool
Aug 31, 2023
◉Track
tracks(Slang) Needle marks on the skin from multiple intravenous injections, considered an indication of habitual drug use.
Muazma Batool
Aug 31, 2023
◉Track
To leave marks made of (dirt or mud, for example) on a surface
The dog tracked mud on the rug.
Muazma Batool
Aug 31, 2023
◉Track
To leave marks on (a floor, for example) when moving or traversing
You're tracking up my nice clean floor!.
Muazma Batool
Aug 31, 2023
◉Track
To observe or monitor the course of (an aircraft, for example), as by radar.
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Aug 31, 2023
◉Track
To observe the progress of; follow
tracking the company's performance daily.
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Aug 31, 2023
◉Track
To determine or discover the location or origin of
tracked the money to an offshore account.
Muazma Batool
Aug 31, 2023
◉Track
To follow the undulations in the groove of a phonograph record. Used of a needle.
Muazma Batool
Aug 31, 2023
◉Track
A mark or impression left by the foot, either of man or beast; trace; vestige; footprint.
Far from track of men.
Muazma Batool
Aug 31, 2023
Tract vs. Track Frequently Asked Questions
What does tract primarily refer to?
Tract primarily refers to an area or expanse of land.
Muazma Batool
Sep 07, 2023
Are tract and track phonetically similar?
While they sound similar, tract has a more pronounced ending "t" sound than track.
Elijah
Sep 07, 2023
Can tract refer to something written?
Yes, a tract can mean a pamphlet or short treatise, especially on a political or religious topic.
Muazma Batool
Sep 07, 2023
In which context is track used in music?
Track refers to an individual song or piece of music on an album or playlist.
Elijah
Sep 07, 2023
How is tract used in the context of the human body?
Tract can refer to a system of organs with a common function, like the digestive or respiratory tract.
Leo
Sep 07, 2023
Which word has a Latin origin?
Tract has a Latin origin, meaning "draw or drag."
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 07, 2023
What can track indicate in nature?
Track can refer to the marks or imprints left by animals or people as they move.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 07, 2023
What is the primary meaning of track?
Track primarily means a path, trail, or route that has been or can be traveled.
Muazma Batool
Sep 07, 2023
Can tract and track be used interchangeably?
No, they have distinct meanings and contexts of use.
Muazma Batool
Sep 07, 2023
Is a track always a physical path?
No, track can also mean a recorded piece of music or data.
William
Sep 07, 2023
Content Creators
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Muazma BatoolAs a content editor, Muazma Batool is not just a grammar guru but a creative mastermind who breathes life into every word. With an eagle eye for detail and a passion for storytelling, she transforms bland text into engaging content that captivates audiences and drives results.
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Muneeza RehmanAt Comparisons.wiki, Muneeza skillfully navigates the vast sea of information, ensuring clarity and accuracy as the lead content editor. With a keen eye for detail, she curates every comparison to enlighten and engage readers.
