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

Near the cables he saw a pair of trekking poles with nobody around, and then encountered a group of five hikers at the bottom of the switchbacks who told him about the accident.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Isak Andic, a fashion billionaire and experienced hiker, plunged more than 300 feet to his death while trekking on this path with his son, Jonathan, almost a year ago.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

He was closing in on 80, and his plan was to grab his trekking poles and take a solo hike along the 342-mile perimeter of Los Angeles.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

"It is expensive to travel and then you will have to trek to areas where hotels don't exist much," he added.

Read more on Barron's

They trekked for more than two weeks to the base camp while carrying the tents, food and other equipment needed.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

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