Refers to footprints left by a person or animal, or the trail they leave behind. Often used in contexts like tracking or following someone.
Animal footprints remained in the snow.
The police followed the trail of the criminal.
Standard kanji spelling.
Mixed kanji-kana spelling, also common.
Compound of 踏み (fumi, 'stepping', from verb 踏む) and 跡 (ato, 'trace, mark').