Meanings
nountrace fossil (plural trace fossils)
plural trace fossils
- biologyA type of fossil reflecting the reworking of sediments and hard substrates by organisms, rather than the physical remains of the organism itself. This includes structures such as burrows, trails, impressions, coprolites and borings.
Synonyms: ichnofossil
Synonyms & antonyms
nounA type of fossil reflecting the reworking of sediments and hard substrates by organisms, rather than the physical remains of the organism itself. This includes structures such as burrows, trails, impressions, coprolites and borings.
Similar
Translations
Catalan icnofòssil
- icnofòssila geological record of an organism's activity, rather than the physical remains of the organism itself
German Spurenfossil
- Spurenfossila geological record of an organism's activity, rather than the physical remains of the organism itself
Portuguese icnofóssil
- icnofóssila geological record of an organism's activity, rather than the physical remains of the organism itself
Spanish icnofósil
- icnofósila geological record of an organism's activity, rather than the physical remains of the organism itself
Swedish spårfossil
- spårfossila geological record of an organism's activity, rather than the physical remains of the organism itself
Cite this entry
APA
trace fossil. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/trace%20fossil
MLA
“trace fossil.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/trace%20fossil. Accessed November 3, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “trace fossil,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/trace%20fossil.
Source: trace fossil on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.