trek meaning in english dictionary

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Definition of trek

 (Entry 1 of 2)

intransitive verb

Definition of trek  (Entry 2 of 2)

• peregrinate
• peregrination

Examples of trek in a Sentence

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'trek.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Afrikaans, from Dutch trecken to pull, haul, migrate; akin to Old High German trechan to pull

Afrikaans, from Dutch treck pull, haul, from trecken

1835, in the meaning defined at sense 2

1849, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Dictionary Entries Near trek

Treitz's muscle

Cite this Entry

“Trek.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trek. Accessed 5 Apr. 2024.

Kids Definition

Kids definition of trek.

Kids Definition of trek  (Entry 2 of 2)

from Afrikaans trek, "to travel by ox wagon," from Dutch trecken "to haul, pull"

More from Merriam-Webster on trek

Nglish: Translation of trek for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of trek for Arabic Speakers

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Definition of 'trek'

Video: pronunciation of trek

trek in British English

Trek in american english, examples of 'trek' in a sentence trek, cobuild collocations trek, trends of trek.

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• arduous trek
• mountain trek
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to travel or migrate slowly or with difficulty, often through rough or unsettled territory: He managed to escape from a Siberian labor camp and trekked to Iran, a three-year journey.

to hike long distances as a recreational activity, especially over rough terrain: He's trekked through the Himalayas and summited Mt. Kilimanjaro.

to make a short but difficult trip on foot: We trekked back to our hotel in the pouring rain.

South Africa . to travel by ox wagon.

South Africa . (of a draft animal) to draw (a vehicle or load).

a slow or difficult journey, hike, or trip.

South Africa .

a migration or expedition, especially by ox wagon.

a stage of such a journey, between one stopping place and the next.

Origin of trek

Other words from trek.

• un·trekked, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use trek in a sentence

The three of us slid on our rumps all the way back to camp and then began the long trek back to the cars.

Parents and coaches worry that the longer teams continue the treks, the wider the gulf will become between those who can afford to take part and those who can’t – creating yet another inequity among children as the pandemic drags on.

The San Diego Surf Soccer Club in Del Mar is one of them now making the trek regularly —traveling hundreds of miles to play mostly neighboring Southern California teams.

So much so that his staffers considered having him skip the ceremony in Oslo, only attending once it was clear that winners rarely avoided the trek except in dire circumstances.

We had planned a honeymoon trek in Patagonia, but I got very sick shortly after our wedding, and have suffered from a chronic illness for much of our time together, which means I’m limited in the things I’m able to do.

The group trekked for about 10 days trying out numerous plants before they found the right one: Scorpion Tail.

As mountaineers ducked out of them and trekked toward Everest, she dreamed of following.

Thus Rowe trekked to the Buckeye State to talk about the “skills gap.”

Zulleth Romero was 12 when she and her mother trekked through the ovenlike Arizona desert.

She trekked across the country holding Sally Ride Science Fairs and talking about her adventures while little mouths gaped in awe.

So we put our oddments in our pillow-case, rolled up our bedrooms into a convenient bundle and trekked.

So he had buried everything that it was possible thus to hide, and incontinently trekked.

On the 7th the sky was immovable, and we trekked four miles due east, camped once more and walked about without finding our goal.

The great man noticed one man solitary As he trekked a turbid trail.

We ought to have avoided this border altogether, and trekked straight down to Luneburg.

British Dictionary definitions for trek

/ ( trɛk ) /

a long and often difficult journey

Southern African a journey or stage of a journey, esp a migration by ox wagon

(intr) to make a trek

(tr) Southern African (of an ox, etc) to draw (a load)

Derived forms of trek

• trekker , noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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Definition of trek – Learner’s Dictionary

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(Definition of trek from the Cambridge Learner's Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

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What does the noun trek mean?

There are four meanings listed in OED's entry for the noun trek . See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

Entry status

OED is undergoing a continuous programme of revision to modernize and improve definitions. This entry has not yet been fully revised.

How common is the noun trek ?

How is the noun trek pronounced, british english, u.s. english, south african english, where does the noun trek come from.

Earliest known use

The earliest known use of the noun trek is in the 1840s.

OED's earliest evidence for trek is from 1849, in the writing of Edward Napier, army officer and author.

trek is a borrowing from Dutch.

Etymons: Dutch trek .

Nearby entries

• tregetour, n. 1340–
• tregetry, n. c1380–1540
• tregetting, n. c1440
• trehala, n. 1862–
• trehalase, n. 1893–
• trehalose, n. 1862–
• treillage, n. 1698–
• treillaged, adj. 1810–
• treille, n. 1780–
• treillis, n. 1706–
• trek, n. 1849–
• trek, v. 1850–
• trek Boer, n. 1835–
• trek-bok, n. 1824–
• trek-cart, n. 1928–
• trek chain, n. 1878–
• trek-farmer, n. 1912–
• trek fever, n. 1897–
• trekker, n. 1851–
• trekkie, n. 1888–
• trekking, n. & adj. 1850–

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Meaning & use

Pronunciation, compounds & derived words, entry history for trek, n..

trek, n. was first published in 1914; not yet revised.

trek, n. was last modified in July 2023.

Revision of the OED is a long-term project. Entries in oed.com which have not been revised may include:

• corrections and revisions to definitions, pronunciation, etymology, headwords, variant spellings, quotations, and dates;
• new senses, phrases, and quotations which have been added in subsequent print and online updates.

Revisions and additions of this kind were last incorporated into trek, n. in July 2023.

Earlier versions of this entry were published in:

OED First Edition (1914)

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OED Second Edition (1989)

• View trek, n. in OED Second Edition

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Citation details

Factsheet for trek, n., browse entry.

Translator for

Lingvanex - your universal translation app, translation meaning & definition of the word "trek" into arabic language, ترجمة معنى وتعريف كلمة "رحلة" إلى اللغة العربية, lingvanex products for translation of text, images, voice, documents:, language translation.

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Definition of trek verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

• I hate having to trek up that hill with all the groceries.
• Finally, we trekked across the wet sands towards the camp.

Questions about grammar and vocabulary?

Find the answers with Practical English Usage online, your indispensable guide to problems in English.

• (+ adv./prep.) We went trekking in Nepal.
• During the expedition, they trekked ten to thirteen hours a day.
• trek something He spent the summer trekking the Taurus mountains.
• She trekked across southern Africa when she was younger.
• The couple disappeared while trekking in Canada last year.
• They trekked the 45 miles across the glacier.

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