orienteering

American  

[awr-ee-en-teer-ing, ohr-] / ˌɔr i ɛnˈtɪər ɪŋ, ˌoʊr- /

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.

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orienteering British  

/ 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

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Etymology

Origin of orienteering

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

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

orienteering

Due to the lack of orienteering assistance, Ms Gerra has been relying on her mother for mobility support.

From BBC ● Feb. 14, 2025

For example, Fletcher argues that “smartphones can make people worse at performing everyday tasks. Basic orienteering skills and transport knowledge have been outsourced to apps.”

From Slate ● Jan. 1, 2023

Sheremet, 37, was a children's orienteering coach and had just returned home on the eve of the invasion with a group of children he had taken to the Carpathian Mountains.

From BBC ● Jun. 7, 2022

Between Tahoma and Cascade orienteering clubs, Western Washington sent several teams to nationals, ranging from middle schoolers to University of Washington students, who finished second in the intercollegiate division.

From Seattle Times ● Apr. 6, 2022

She’s left all her books, as far as I can see, but has taken the maps from the orienteering, or map reading, course.

From "On the Far Side of the Mountain" by Jean Craighead George

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