orienteering

[ awr-ee-en-teer-ing, ohr- ]

noun

1. a competitive sport, originating in Sweden, that tests the skills of map reading and cross-country running, in which competitors race through an unknown area to find various checkpoints by using only a compass and topographical map, the winner being the finisher with the lowest elapsed time.

orienteering

/ ˌɔːrɪənˈtɪərɪŋ /

noun

1. a sport in which contestants race on foot over a course consisting of checkpoints found with the aid of a map and a compass

Word History and Origins

Origin of orienteering¹

Alteration of Swedish orientering (conformed to -eer ), equivalent to orienter ( a ) orient (v.) + -ing -ing ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of orienteering¹

C20: from Swedish orientering; compare orient