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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 June 2024.

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 June 2024.

Earlier versions of this entry were published in:

OED First Edition (1914)

• Find out more

OED Second Edition (1989)

• View trek, n. in OED Second Edition

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Citation details

Factsheet for trek, n., browse entry.

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Trek Definition

• peregrinate

Other Word Forms of Trek

Origin of trek.

Afrikaans to travel by ox wagon from Dutch trekken to travel from Middle Dutch trecken to pull

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

From Afrikaans trek .

From Wiktionary

Trek Sentence Examples

His now aging Trek performed admirably.

In these circumstances what is known as the Great Trek occurred.

We totally enjoyed our exhilarating trek to the summit.

Galileo Shuttle craft landed on planet surface, based on the Classic Star Trek series episode The Galileo 7. 1/35th scale diorama.

Having a party with local villagers at the end of a stunning 6 day trek .

Related Articles

Trek Is Also Mentioned In

• star-trekky

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• trekking pole

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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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Nearby words.

Hiking vs trekking: what’s the difference and does it matter?

We explore the definitions and characteristics of hiking vs trekking so you know just what kind of adventure you’re going on, and how to plan for it

In the outdoor world, the terms hiking and trekking are often used interchangeably, but do they actually mean the same thing? After all, there are any number of synonyms for hiking, from hillwalking and rambling to strolling and sauntering, so is a trek just another word for walking in nature? We take a look at the definitions and characteristics of hiking vs trekking so you know just what kind of adventure you’re going on, and how to plan for it. 

What is the difference between trekking and hiking? 

Hiking and trekking both describe walking in the outdoors, usually wearing hiking boots , so how different can they really be? The official definition of trekking is a long and arduous journey, especially one on foot. The word comes from a South African Dutch word “trakk” meaning “to pull or travel”. Meanwhile, hiking is defined as the activity of going for long walks, especially across country, and its origins are unknown.

So is the difference just semantics? In modern usage, at least, hiking and trekking do describe different activities, although the markers are all rather subjective. We took a closer look at the differences between hiking vs trekking and unearthed five key differences separating these two activities.

Hiking vs trekking: distance 

If you look at the definitions of hiking and trekking, they are both unhelpfully described as “long”. Asking the question “how long is a hike?” is a bit like asking “how long is a piece of string?” After all, as you probably know, when you set off on a hike it will be as long as it takes you to complete it, really. But even though there isn’t a specified distance that makes a hike a hike and a trek a trek, there is some difference here, albeit subjective difference.

A hike is going to be the shorter of the two, and general agreement is that if you can do it in a day, it’s a hike. For some of us though, the most we can walk in a day is five miles and for others, it’s close to 30. And some mountains that involve a little over a mile of steep climbing definitely still feel very much like a hike. Complicating matters further, if you do a one-night backpacking trip with a day of walking on either side, it’s still considered a hike. In fact, you could do a two or three-night trip and it might still be a hike. The question gets even trickier to answer when you ask what denotes a thru-hike .

Trekking, on the other hand, always involves travelling long distances. A trek in the Himalayas might cover over 100 miles for example. The definition of a long distance will vary between a novice and an ultra-runner, but for the sake of drawing a line somewhere, let’s just say that once you start getting up above the 40-mile mark, you’re more likely on a trek than a hike. 

Hiking vs trekking: duration 

This one ties in with distance. Regardless of your pace, the further you go, the longer it will take you. Given what we said about the distance of hikes, a hike could presumably take you anywhere from an hour or two to several days. If we go by the very unofficial definition that a trek is 40 miles or more, well that could take the average hiker 4-5 days to complete, but again, someone else might be able to finish in two days. So again, there isn’t a strict definition here, but if it takes you more than a couple of days, it’s probably a trek. 

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Hiking vs trekking: destination 

Next up, we’ve got the question of destination. As you know, hiking doesn’t have to involve a specific destination. You might well go to a mountain top, a lake or a waterfall but none of these features defines a hike, they just make it more scenic. As long as it’s taking place outside in nature, it’s a hike. 

So what about trekking? In modern usage, trekking does usually denote some type of special destination, whether that’s the two-week walk to Everest Base Camp or a 500 mile pilgrimage on El Camino de Santiago. There isn’t always a spiritual significance – treks can indeed be done purely for enjoyment – but there is usually a significance more than just popping up the hills out your back door. 

That said, you could walk to the summit of the legendary Mount Shasta for spiritual reasons and call it a pilgrimage, but at 10 miles it wouldn’t count as a trek, so destination only counts so far as distance when it comes to delineating a hike from a trek.

Hiking vs trekking: terrain 

Now we can all agree that hikes and treks occur in the outdoors and in natural, not urban, environments. So is there any difference between the types of terrain you cover in hiking vs trekking?

In modern usage, hiking typically takes place on trails and footpaths. Trekking can also take place on a designated trail – the 2,200 mile Appalachian Trail is a great example – but may involve terrain where there are no trails, through the jungles of northern Thailand or across the Sahara would be extreme examples.

Once again, this classification also depends on distance, since you might have a nearby mountain that you love to walk up that has no official trail, but if it’s just a few miles you wouldn’t call it a trek just due to the lack of footpath.

Hiking vs trekking: enjoyment 

Now the enjoyment factor might be the most subjective category of all, but it’s one worth considering when it comes to hiking vs trekking. Though it might not be part of its official definition, hiking usually denotes a level of pleasure, versus doing something for material gain or to achieve a certain goal. If you recall though, trekking by definition is “arduous” meaning it will always be difficult and tiring. That’s not to say that you won’t enjoy elements of a trek, but at times it is likely to be harrowing. 

Hikes can be arduous too of course, which you’ll know if you’ve tackled a Colorado 14er , but by definition they don’t have to be. You can stroll a gentle three-mile loop along a babbling brook in a meadow of wildflowers and it’s still a hike. If you’re trekking and not suffering a little, you’re either doing it wrong or you’ve achieved nirvana. 

It seems like the biggest delineating factor between hiking and trekking comes down to the time it takes and distance covered, with some more nuanced possibilities coming into play like terrain, purpose and the enjoyment level, but why does all of this even matter?

Ultimately, the difference for you is knowing what kind of training, preparation and gear you’re likely to need. By now, you won’t be surprised to hear that there’s not a set gear list for a hike versus a trek, but for an easy day hike you might just need your best hiking shoes , a water bottle and a small daypack . For a longer hike, you’d want to start thinking about proper boots, a layering system and a tent . Basically, it depends on the distance you’re covering and the season and weather, but you can read more in our article on What to wear hiking . You might need to train for a longer hike, but for most, you can just do your training on the trail and turn around when you get tired. 

For trekking, it’s a bit more clear that you will need to train in advance , plan your journey and, unless you’ve got Sherpas, carry everything you need from a camping stove to a good one-person tent in a large backpack . After all, it’s going to be arduous and you want the best gear possible to lighten your load. 

Julia Clarke is a staff writer for Advnture.com and the author of the book  Restorative Yoga for Beginners . She loves to explore mountains on foot, bike, skis and belay and then recover on the the yoga mat. Julia graduated with a degree in journalism in 2004 and spent eight years working as a radio presenter in Kansas City, Vermont, Boston and New York City before discovering the joys of the Rocky Mountains. She then detoured west to Colorado and enjoyed 11 years teaching yoga in Vail before returning to her hometown of Glasgow, Scotland in 2020 to focus on family and writing.  

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Synonyms of trek

• as in to travel
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Thesaurus Definition of trek

 (Entry 1 of 2)

Synonyms & Similar Words

• peregrination
• commutation

Thesaurus Definition of trek  (Entry 2 of 2)

• peregrinate
• road - trip
• knock (about)
• perambulate

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.

Thesaurus Entries Near trek

Cite this entry.

“Trek.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trek. Accessed 30 Sep. 2024.

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Nglish: Translation of trek for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of trek for Arabic Speakers

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Definition of 'trek'

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trek in American English

Trek in british english, examples of 'trek' in a sentence trek, related word partners trek, trends of trek.

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verb (used without object)

He managed to escape from a Siberian labor camp and trekked to Iran, a three-year journey.

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

We trekked back to our hotel in the pouring rain.

• South Africa. to travel by ox wagon.

verb (used with object)

• South Africa. (of a draft animal) to draw (a vehicle or load).
• a slow or difficult journey, hike, or trip.
• a migration or expedition, especially by ox wagon.
• a stage of such a journey, between one stopping place and the next.
• a long and often difficult journey
• a journey or stage of a journey, esp a migration by ox wagon
• intr to make a trek
• tr (of an ox, etc) to draw (a load)

Derived Forms

• ˈtrekker , noun

Other Words From

• un·trekked adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of trek 1

Example Sentences

During his trek, Brinsley twice passed within a block of a police stationhouse and he almost certainly saw cops along the way.

The audience--tout Hollywood--stands to cheer his slow and painful trek from the wings to the table.

Overall, few travelers have made the trek into the desert of Sudan to see these architectural wonders.

In fact, some feminist critics have pointed to a long history of objectification in Star Trek.

Horst Ulrich, a 72-year-old German on a trek with a group of friends, watched four Nepali guides swept away by an avalanche.

If his partner's impedimentia was not too bulky, the ancient model was ready for another trek to the hills.

The mountaineers, indeed, suffered less than the townsfolk as being more accustomed than they to conditions of trek and battle.

The cool morning air made it bearable for man and beast to trek.

By the third day of their trek southward along the Great River, the soles of Redbird's moccasins had worn through.

Once more was there a cracking of whips, and the oxen, straightening out along the trek-touw (Note 3), moved reluctantly on.

Related Words

Screen Rant

Todd stashwick’s star trek: picard captain & popularity explained.

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I’ve Never Seen A Star Trek Character Go From Hated To Beloved As Fast As This Guy

Star trek: picard totally forgot about jean-luc's other son, no one noticed star trek: picard season 3 subtly set up uss enterprise-d’s return.

Todd Stashwick's Captain Liam Shaw became a breakout fan favorite by the end of Star Trek: Picard season 3. In its third and final season, Picard reunited Star Trek: The Next Generation's crew aboard the newly rebuilt USS Enterprise-D for one final adventure. When Admiral Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) received a distress call from his friend and former flame Dr. Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden), he didn't hesitate to come to her aid. Picard reached out to his former first officer, Captain William Riker (Jonathan Frakes) and the two hatched a plan to help Dr. Crusher — with or without Starfleet.

When Picard and Riker arrived on the USS Titan for a surprise " inspection ," Captain Liam Shaw immediately knew they were up to something. Shaw was not impressed with Picard and Riker despite their objectively impressive Starfleet careers. Shaw's cold and downright rude reception of two Star Trek greats did not exactly endear him to fans, but popular opinion of the new Titan captain would soon shift. Despite Shaw's refusal to help, Riker and Picard commandeered the Titan anyway, pulling the reluctant and delightfully snarky Shaw into a dangerous and ill-fated mission. For all his antagonism, Shaw's status as a fan favorite was quickly established.

Todd Stashwick Played Captain Liam Shaw In Star Trek: Picard

Stashwick previously worked with showrunner terry matalas on 12 monkeys.

A former engineer and self-proclaimed "grease monkey," Shaw ran a tight ship, doing things by the book in order to keep his crew safe. Picard and Riker's arrival completely upended Shaw's routine, plunging him into a dangerous battle he never asked for and putting his entire ship in danger. Shaw never tried to hide his annoyance, but he helped when he could, getting injured numerous times in the process. With his compelling backstory and entertaining quips, Shaw became one of Star Trek's best new characters , ultimately sacrificing himself to help Picard and his friends escape.

Captain Shaw was brought to life by Todd Stashwick, who has appeared in numerous popular films and television shows since he began acting in 1997. Stashwick is perhaps best known for portraying Theodore Deacon in Syfy's 12 Monkeys , which was co-created by Picard season 3 showrunner Terry Matalas . He has also appeared in episodes of Supernatural, Heroes, Justified, The Originals, and The Last Thing He Told Me. Stashwick is set to reunite with Terry Matalas for Marvel's upcoming Vision series, in which he will portray an assassin hunting Paul Bettany's Vision.

Todd Stashwick Played A Vulcan On Star Trek: Enterprise

Stashwick portrayed talok in star trek: enterprise season 4, episode 9, "kir'shara".

Star Trek: Picard was not the first Star Trek show that Todd Stashwick appeared in, although his previous role was relatively minor compared to Captain Shaw. In 2004, Stashwick played a Romulan named Talok in Star Trek: Enterprise season 4, episode 9, "Kir'Shara." Although Talok was posing as a Vulcan military officer, he was actually a Romulan agent in deep cover. Talok had previously served under Command T'Pol (Jolene Blalock) during the Tomed Mission, although the details of this mission remain known.

Talok's ultimate desire was to " reunite " Romulan and Vulcan society by having the Romulans conquer and subjugate the Vulcans.

Talok was involved in a covert alliance with Administrator V'Las (Robert Foxworth), the head of the Vulcan High Command. In his one Enterprise appearance, Stashwick's Talok set out to find the Kir'Shara, which contained the writings of Surak (Bruce Gray). Talok tried and failed to prevent Captain Jonathan Archer (Scott Bakula) from presenting the Kir'Shara to the High Command. After acquiring Surak's true teachings, the Vulcans relieved V'Las from his position and disbanded the High Command, and Talok traveled back to Romulus.

Why Todd Stashwick’s Captain Shaw Became So Popular In Star Trek: Picard

Stashwick made shaw impossible to hate.

Captain Shaw may have been less than friendly to Picard and Riker, but he grew on Star Trek fans over the course of Star Trek: Picard season 3. Todd Stashwick's captivating performance as Shaw was undoubtedly one of the main reasons for this surge in popularity. From his hilarious quips and one-liners to his devastating monologue about the Battle of Wolf 359 , Stashwick made Shaw impossible to hate. Anyone who refers to changelings as "goo-people, walking, talking clay-dough" can't be all bad. Shaw's tense relationship with his first officer, Commander Seven of Nine (Jeri Ryan), also made for a fascinating storyline.

I've never seen reactions to a Star Trek character flip so fast from "this guy sucks" to "if he dies, we riot" until Star Trek: Picard season 3.

As more about Shaw's history was revealed, it brought his actions into context, offering an explanation for his earlier behavior. As an ensign, Shaw was understandably traumatized by his experience at the Battle of Wolf 359, during which he watched Picard - as Locutus of Borg - order the destruction of nearly forty Federation starships. Although this does not justify Shaw's insistence on using Seven of Nine's human name, it explains why he has such resentment and fear of the Borg. In the end, not only does Shaw sacrifice himself to save the others, but he also leaves a recording praising Seven and promoting her to Captain.

Will Todd Stashwick’s Shaw Return To Star Trek?

The short answer is: maybe.

Captain Shaw may have died in the penultimate episode of Star Trek: Picard season 3, but both Terry Matalas and Todd Stashwick have confirmed that the character can come back. Stashwick himself has referred to Shaw as "Spock dead," and Matalas has said that there is already an "amazing" plan laid out for Shaw's return. After the end of Picard season 3, fans began clamoring for a spin-off following Captain Seven of Nine and her adventures aboard the USS Enterprise-G. Despite this fan enthusiasm, the proposed Star Trek: Legacy spin-off remains dead in space as Paramount focuses on other Trek projects.

A younger version of Liam Shaw has popped up in some of the Star Trek tie-in comics published by IDW.

Hopefully, audiences will one day get to see Shaw return if Star Trek: Legacy or a similar Picard spin-off gets made. Matalas and Stashwick certainly seem on board, and several other cast members have also expressed a desire to tell more Star Trek stories. In the meantime, Matalas and Shaw will both be involved in Marvel's Vision series, which will likely keep them busy for the time being. Ultimately, Captain Shaw's onscreen return depends entirely on whether Paramount Studios decides to continue the story that began in Star Trek: Picard season 3.

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Thirty killed in one county after hurricane swamps North Carolina

• Author, Rachel Looker
• Role, BBC News, Washington
• 29 September 2024 Updated 1 hour ago

At least 30 people have died and scores more are unaccounted for in just one county in North Carolina, after Hurricane Helene tore across the state and caused catastrophic flooding.

A clearer image of the damage the storm inflicted after barrelling through Florida and Georgia emerged throughout Sunday, with Buncombe County appearing to be the hardest hit area.

“We have biblical devastation,” said Ryan Cole, an emergency official in the county, which contains the mountain city of Asheville. "This is the most significant natural disaster that any one of us has ever seen."

At least 105 people have died nationwide since the hurricane made landfall in Florida on Thursday, according to the BBC's US partner CBS, and that figure is expected to rise as officials reach more areas.

Helene began as a hurricane - the most powerful on record to hit Florida's Big Bend, and moved north into Georgia, the Carolinas and Tennessee. The majority of deaths have been confirmed in North and South Carolina where Helene landed as a tropical storm.

On Sunday evening, officials in North Carolina said 30 people had died in Buncombe County alone. Crews across the state are battling power and mobile service outages, downed trees and hundreds of closed roads.

Some residents returned to find their homes entirely destroyed on Sunday. And with some 1,000 people still unaccounted for in Buncombe County, relatives are working to locate family members with limited mobile service.

"This storm has brought catastrophic devastation... of historic proportions," North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper said.

The American Red Cross has opened more than 140 shelters for those in south-eastern states who evacuated their homes. More than 2,000 people are currently using the shelters, the organisation said on Sunday.

Image source, Reuters

Erin Quevedo, the owner of a flooded salon in Buncombe County, spoke to The Asheville Citizen Times while ankle-deep in mud.

"The salon was completely destroyed. It looks like the water came up to about five feet inside," she said. "Right now, all we're doing is we're trying to salvage what we can."

Rescue operations are ongoing in North Carolina and supplies, including food and water, are being delivered by air to affected areas that cannot be reached due to closed roads.

"People are desperate for help and we are pushing to get it to them - [it is] a massive effort," Governor Cooper said.

The North Carolina National Guard has rescued more than 119 people - including one infant, according to Major General Todd Hunt. He said the largest rescue was of 41 people north of Asheville.

Many petrol stations are closed throughout North Carolina with long queues of cars at those that are still open. Meanwhile, the few open supermarkets have been crowded by customers attempting to buy bottled water.

• In pictures: Hurricane Helene destruction

The damage from the storm is estimated at between $95bn and $110bn (£71bn-£82bn) nationwide. The scale of the destruction will become clearer in the coming days.

The search for survivors is ongoing and federal emergencies have been declared in six states, including Florida and Georgia.

"The devastation we're witnessing in Hurricane Helene's wake has been overwhelming," President Joe Biden said on Saturday.

He was briefed by Deanne Criswell, head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), who he directed to speed up support to storm survivors, including deployment of extra teams to North Carolina.

Some of the areas most affected by the storm lie in states expected to be decisive in November's presidential election, namely Georgia and North Carolina.

The White House has said Vice President Kamala Harris will visit affected areas as soon as she can do so without affecting rescue operations.

Meanwhile Donald Trump's campaign said he would visit the Georgia city of Valdosta on Monday.

Although Helene has weakened significantly, forecasters warn that high winds, flooding and the threat of tornadoes could continue.

There could be as many as 25 named storms in 2024, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration warned earlier this year.

Between eight and 13 of those storms could develop into hurricanes and a handful already have, including Helene. More storms could be on the horizon, officials warned, as the official end of hurricane season is not until 30 November.

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Meaning 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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the soft part of your face that is below your eye and between your mouth and ear

It’s as clear as mud! (Words and expressions that mean ‘difficult to understand’)

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