Rastro (en. Trace)
/ˈras.tɾo/
Meaning & Definition
EnglishSpanish
noun
Route or path left by an object or living being.
The animal's trail in the snow was clear.
El rastro del animal en la nieve era claro.
Sign or mark indicating someone's presence.
The detective followed the trail of footprints on the ground.
El detective siguió el rastro de las huellas en el suelo.
Open-air market where second-hand items are sold.
Today I'm going to the flea market to look for antiques.
Hoy voy al rastro a buscar antigüedades.
Etymology
From Latin 'rastrum', which means 'rake' or 'to rake'.
Common Phrases and Expressions
trace of the past
Clues about previous events or situations.
rastro de lo pasado
to follow the trail
To continue searching or investigating based on left signals.
seguir el rastro
to hit the trail
To find or discover something that was being sought.
dar en el rastro
Related Words
to track
To search for and follow the trail of something.
rastrear
tracked
Something that has been followed or found through signals.
rastreado
Slang Meanings
In some contexts, it refers to a market for used items.
I'm going to the flea market to see if I find a costume.
Voy al rastro a ver si encuentro algún disfraz.
It is sometimes used in the sense of 'being lost'.
After searching so much, I was wandering aimlessly, as if I were at a flea market.
Después de tanto buscar, andaba dando vueltas sin rumbo, como si estuviera en un rastro.