trek

[trek]

verb (used without object)

trekked, trekking 

1. 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.

2. to hike long distances as a recreational activity, especially over rough terrain.

   He's trekked through the Himalayas and summited Mt. Kilimanjaro.

3. to make a short but difficult trip on foot.

   We trekked back to our hotel in the pouring rain.

4. South Africa.,  to travel by ox wagon.

verb (used with object)

trekked, trekking 

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

noun

1. a slow or difficult journey, hike, or trip.

2. South Africa.

   1. a migration or expedition, especially by ox wagon.

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

trek

/ trɛk /

noun

1. a long and often difficult journey

2. a journey or stage of a journey, esp a migration by ox wagon

verb

1. (intr) to make a trek

2. (tr) (of an ox, etc) to draw (a load)

Other Word Forms

• untrekked adjective
• trekker noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of trek¹

First recorded in 1845–50; from Afrikaans and Dutch noun trek “a tug, pull, march”; verb from Afrikaans trek “to draw, pull, migrate,” from Dutch trekken

Word History and Origins

Origin of trek¹

C19: from Afrikaans, from Middle Dutch trekken to travel; related to Old Frisian trekka

Example Sentences

Her son, Li Chen-ho, stocked up for a recent trek with a sleeping bag, a change of clothes, a water bottle and instant rice.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

If fans of this year’s inductees want to revel in musical history, they can trek out the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland starting Oct.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Years of pent-up demand resulted in an 80-date trek around the continent, including dates at Wembley Arena and outdoor shows in Italy, France and Ireland.

Read more on BBC

A group of teenage pig hunters who had been trekking through the bush around Marokopa spotted them and filmed the brief encounter on their phones.

Read more on BBC

Last October, a group of teenagers spotted them trekking through the bush and filmed the encounter.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• hike 
• migrate 
• plod 
• roam 
• slog 
• traipse 
• tramp 
• trudge