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Definition of 'trek'

trek in British English

Trek in american english, examples of 'trek' in a sentence trek, cobuild collocations trek, trends of trek.

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Related terms of trek

• arduous trek
• mountain trek
• the Great Trek
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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 July 2023.

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 July 2023.

Earlier versions of this entry were published in:

OED First Edition (1914)

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OED Second Edition (1989)

• View trek, n. in OED Second Edition

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Citation details

Factsheet for trek, n., browse entry.

• Cambridge Dictionary +Plus

Definition of trek – Learner’s Dictionary

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(Definition of trek from the Cambridge Learner's Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

Translations of trek

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out of harm's way

in a position that is safe from harm or from which harm cannot be done

Trial, judge, and jury: talking about what happens when a criminal is caught

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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 24 Aug. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on trek

Nglish: Translation of trek for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of trek for Arabic Speakers

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  Vocabulary      

What does TREK mean?

Definitions for trek trɛk trek, this dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word trek ., princeton's wordnet rate this definition: 5.0 / 1 vote.

a journey by ox wagon (especially an organized migration by a group of settlers)

any long and difficult trip

journey on foot, especially in the mountains

"We spent the summer trekking in the foothills of the Himalayas"

make a long and difficult journey

"They trekked towards the North Pole with sleds and skis"

Wiktionary Rate this definition: 4.0 / 1 vote

A slow or difficult journey.

We're planning on going on a trek up Kilimanjaro.

A journey by ox wagon, especially the Boer migration of 1835-7.

To make a slow or arduous journey.

To journey on foot, especially to hike through mountainous areas.

To travel by ox wagon.

Etymology: From trek.

ChatGPT Rate this definition: 0.0 / 0 votes

A trek is a long, arduous journey, typically on foot and often involving challenging terrains such as mountains, forests, or deserts. It is usually undertaken for the purpose of exploration, adventure or achievement, and requires significant physical effort and perseverance.

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary Rate this definition: 0.0 / 0 votes

trek, v.i. to drag a vehicle: to journey by ox-wagon.— n. the distance from one station to another.— n. Trek′ker , a traveller. [Dut. trekken , to draw.]

Editors Contribution Rate this definition: 0.0 / 0 votes

A trust of translation in transposition as a transitive treasure following a life formed echo. 1.) a long arduous journey, esp. one made on foot. A tourist hike. Draw a vehicle or pull a load. Travel constantly from place to place; lead a nomadic life.

I trek the true words of light within my heart through the stars of my mind for growth and understanding.

Etymology: The Mission

Submitted by Tehorah_Elyon on May 23, 2024  

Suggested Resources Rate this definition: 0.0 / 0 votes

What does TREK stand for? -- Explore the various meanings for the TREK acronym on the Abbreviations.com website.

Matched Categories

Usage in printed sources from:  .

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How to pronounce TREK?

Alex US English David US English Mark US English Daniel British Libby British Mia British Karen Australian Hayley Australian Natasha Australian Veena Indian Priya Indian Neerja Indian Zira US English Oliver British Wendy British Fred US English Tessa South African

How to say TREK in sign language?

Chaldean Numerology

The numerical value of TREK in Chaldean Numerology is: 4

Pythagorean Numerology

The numerical value of TREK in Pythagorean Numerology is: 9

Examples of TREK in a Sentence

Srin Madipalli :

I went to Europe, U.S.A., southern Africa, Indonesia and Singapore, in California we went on a wheelchair trek through Yosemite.

Michael Rubin :

While many in the West might find it enduring that the King is a Trek kie who once even had a Star Trek 'Voyager' cameo, Islamists consider science fiction forbidden because it presumes to know a future that only God can know.

Zachary Knox :

He took his vehicle and all the gear that he still had remaining from his time at the FDNY.... and made the trek all the way to Ground Zero, and he was down there for several weeks afterward.

Ellen Stofan :

Think about these things you used to see on TV from science fiction, like communicators on Star Trek , well now we actually have them, space exploration pushes us to say 'here's things we've just dreamed about, but we can turn that into reality.'.

Chris Lemanski :

I was going through a pretty bad depression, i was kind of ready to give up and say the hell with it. The young man asked his cousin for advice on how to clear his head and he told him to take a long walk. Lemanski did just that. The traveler decided to make the journey in April 2016 after going through a period of depression. (Chris Lemanski ) In April 2016, Lemanski decided on the journey after looking up trails and saw one that went from Istanbul, Turkey to Portugal. The traveler said everything appeared to shift into place after he purchased a cheap ticket to Istanbul. Lemanski made the trek in 18 months, three of those months he was stuck in Morocco after he overstayed his visa for about three months. However, he was able to sneak out of the country and catch a boat to Germany where he continued his journey. As for how much money he spent in 18 months, Lemanski said he saved and people were generous.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

• ^  Princeton's WordNet http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=TREK
• ^  Wiktionary https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/TREK
• ^  ChatGPT https://chat.openai.com
• ^  Chambers 20th Century Dictionary https://www.gutenberg.org/files/37683/37683-h/37683-h.htm#:~:text=TREK
• ^  Usage in printed sources https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=TREK

Translations for TREK

From our multilingual translation dictionary.

• رحلة Arabic
• trek Danish
• jornada, emigrar Spanish
• vaeltaa Finnish
• randonnée French
• vándorlás Hungarian
• melakukan perjalanan Indonesian
• tocht Dutch
• trek Norwegian
• wędrówka Polish
• viagem Portuguese
• trek Vietnamese

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Tim Walz's son Gus has a learning disorder. Can his visibility help disabled Americans?

CHICAGO – When Jessica Anacker was in junior high, a teacher pulled her out of English class one day after she was bullied by a student because of her learning disability.

Instead of disciplining the tormenter, “she blamed me for being bullied,” Anacker said.

An angry Anacker fired back, telling the teacher, “It’s your job to take care of it.”

Now president of the Texas Democrats With Disabilities caucus and a delegate at this week’s Democratic National Convention , Anacker is thrilled that there could soon be someone to "take care of" such issues at the highest level of government.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz , Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris ' running mate, has spoken openly and lovingly about his 17-year-old son, Gus, who has ADHD , along with a nonverbal learning disorder and an anxiety disorder. Walz and his wife, Gwen, both former teachers, said recently in a statement to People magazine that they never considered Gus’ conditions an obstacle.

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"Like so many American families, it took us time to figure out how to make sure we did everything we could to make sure Gus would be set up for success as he was growing up," the couple said.

"It took time, but what became so immediately clear to us was that Gus’ condition is not a setback − it’s his secret power," they said.

When Walz delivered his acceptance speech inside the packed United Center arena Wednesday night, Gus watched from the audience with his mother and sister, Hope, and sobbed.

"That's my dad!" he exclaimed.

From the stage, Walz honored his family. “Hope, Gus and Gwen – you are my entire world, and I love you,” he said.

Gus Walz sprung from his seat, moved by his father's words.

He pointed his index finger, saying "I love you, Dad."

Advocates for Americans with learning disabilities believe the Walz family's openness about their son and their willingness to speak publicly about the experience will raise much-needed visibility that could help others who are going through similar experiences.

“It’s a good thing when people in politics, who are running for office, are comfortable discussing disability issues and don’t view it as a topic that is taboo or something that we shouldn’t discuss,” said Zoe Gross, director of advocacy for the Washington-based Autistic Self Advocacy Network.

When public figures are open about their experiences with disability or those of their family, that can lead more people to feel comfortable disclosing their own disabilities or talking about their family’s experiences, Gross said.

“That’s helpful,” she said, “because in order to talk about the needs of the disability community, we need to be comfortable discussing disability as a society, just like we talk about the needs of any marginalized population.”

'Now is the time': Democrats again dream of electing female president after Hillary Clinton's loss

In a sign of how important the Harris-Walz campaign views disability rights, Gwen Walz made a surprise appearance Tuesday at a meeting of disability advocates at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. She made no mention of her son during her brief remarks but said her husband believes strongly “that every student and every person deserves a chance to get ahead.”

Walz is not the first vice presidential nominee who has a child with a disability. Sarah Palin , the Republican nominee in 2008, has a son, Trig, who has Down syndrome. Trig was an infant when his mother was running for vice president. Palin cradled him in her arms on stage after delivering her acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention. Amy Coney Barrett, appointed to the Supreme Court in 2020, also has a son with Down syndrome.

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'Fighting spirit': LGBTQ voters see hope in Harris campaign amid attacks from right

In their statement to People magazine, Tim and Gwen Walz said they noticed Gus’ special abilities at an early age.

"When our youngest Gus was growing up, it became increasingly clear that he was different from his classmates," they said. "Gus preferred video games and spending more time by himself."

When he was becoming a teenager, they learned that in addition to an anxiety disorder, he has attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, a brain development condition that starts in childhood and is marked by trouble with maintaining attention, hyperactivity and impulse control difficulties.

ADHD in adults is relatively common and affects between 139 million and 360 million people worldwide, according to the Cleveland Clinic. With treatment, people usually have limited effects from it.

Can she keep this up? Kamala Harris energizes Democrats and shakes up presidential race

Anacker, the Texas delegate at the Democratic convention, said it’s important for people with ADHD and other learning disabilities to have people in positions of power advocate on their behalf.

Anacker is neurodivergent , a nonmedical term used to describe people whose brains develop or work differently from most people. She also has a speech impediment and dysgraphia, a neurological condition in which people have difficulty turning their thoughts into written language.

In high school, she remembers dissolving into tears because she couldn’t draw a picture of a frog during science class. As an adult, she has never been fully employed, she said, because employers have a difficult time making accommodations for her disability.

No matter who wins the election in November, advocates hope the needs of Americans with disabilities will become a priority for the next administration.

Gross’ group, for example, would like to see expanded home and community-based services through Medicaid, which she said is one of the most urgent issues facing Americans with autism. Many states have long waiting lists for such services, and people who provide those services are underpaid, which leads to huge staff turnover, Gross said.

In addition, advocates hope to see an expansion of employment services, a realignment of government research to focus more on quality-of-life issues, and a federal ban on use of seclusion or restraints in public schools except in cases when they are needed to prevent physical danger, like stopping someone from running into a busy street.

Sen. Tammy Duckworth , an Iraq War veteran who lost both of her legs and partial use of her right arm when her Black Hawk helicopter was hit by a grenade, said Walz’s openness about his son will benefit all Americans with disabilities.

“For so long, disability was a hidden thing – you took care of your loved ones, but you didn’t talk about it publicly,” Duckworth, D-Ill., said after speaking to disability advocates at the Democratic convention. “Many disabled people stayed in the home, are not out in the workplace, and we really need to normalize those people with disabilities in a normal society so that you can get the job, you can show people you can do the job.”

Regardless of the election outcome in November, Walz is already spotlighting ADHD and other learning disabilities just by talking about his son during the campaign , advocates said.

“We love our Gus,” Tim and Gwen Walz said in their statement. “We are proud of the man he’s growing into, and we are so excited to have him with us on this journey."

Michael Collins covers the White House. Follow him on X @mcollinsNEWS.

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Sec adopts rule to update definition of qualifying venture capital funds.

For Immediate Release

Washington D.C., Aug. 21, 2024 —

The Securities and Exchange Commission today adopted a rule that updates the dollar threshold for a fund to qualify as a “qualifying venture capital fund” for purposes of the Investment Company Act of 1940. The rule updates the dollar threshold to $12 million in aggregate capital contributions and uncalled committed capital, up from the original threshold of $10 million.

Qualifying venture capital funds are excluded from the Act’s definition of an “investment company.” The Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act of 2018 requires the Commission to index the dollar amount for this threshold for inflation once every five years.

New rule 3c-7 implements this statutory directive and adjusts the dollar amount to $12 million dollars, based on the Personal Consumption Expenditures Chain-Type Price Index. The rule also establishes a process for the Commission to make future inflation adjustments to the threshold every five years.

The rule will be effective 30 days after publication in the Federal Register.

Last Reviewed or Updated: Aug. 21, 2024

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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

East Kimberley youth diversion trek tackles region's high rates of youth crime, changes one boy's life

By Ted O'Connor

ABC Kimberley

Topic: Crime Prevention

Camble Sullivan now dreams of becoming a ranger. ( Supplied: Sean McDonald, Wunan Media )

A youth crime prevention trek in the East Kimberley has proven life-changing for one teenager who now dreams of becoming a ranger.

The first Bedford Stock Route Walk took place this month and leaders hope it will help drive down youth crime in the East Kimberley.

What's next? 

Youth agencies will work closely with young people who took part to ensure they continue on a positive path.

Teenager Camble Sullivan dreams of catching and relocating crocodiles in his hometown of Kununurra, in remote northern Western Australia.

It is a stark change in outlook for the 15-year-old Miriwoong boy, who was caught up in a cycle of crime and dysfunction.

"I used to walk around, prowl the streets with all the boys, steal cars, and do bad stuff," Camble said.

"But now I'm going to change my life and I'm going to keep going to school every day and become a ranger.

"Going after crocodiles and taking them to places where no-one else can get hurt from them."

The boys hike along a cattle track in the remote East Kimberley. ( Supplied: Sean McDonald, Wunan Media )

This month, Camble was among a dozen at-risk boys who completed a five-day cross-country cultural adventure that aims to steer them away from youth offending and into school, training, or employment in a region with widespread Indigenous disadvantage.

The first Bedford Stock Route Walk involved two hikes — 7 and 10 kilometres — through rocky and undulating Gija country in the East Kimberley region, 2,800km north-east of Perth.

The trial run of the trek aimed to see what distances were appropriate to test and change a challenging group of teenagers who were referred to the program by local police.

Camble said the walk was difficult at first, but then he made friends with other boys and cultural guides along the way.

"They had a good chat with me and they got to know me; they changed my life by helping me out," he said.

"By making me go on country, it cleared my mind."

During the trek the boys fished for black bream and learned about Indigenous culture and history.

Camble Sullivan says the trek changed his outlook on life. ( Supplied: Sean McDonald, Wunan Media )

Trek instills pride

Gija man Clifton Morris took part as a mentor and said the expedition got off to a rocky start after a fight broke out between some of the boys.

But as the days progressed, he said the teenagers grew eager to tackle the long hikes through the savanna country.

"They were all really proud of themselves," he said.

"They were talking about the next day, we can't wait to do the walk again, we really want to do it because we get to go to the next place."

Gija man Clifton Morris enjoyed spending time with the boys during the adventure in remote bushland. ( Supplied: Sean McDonald, Wunan Media )

Mr Morris was encouraged to see the boys focus on planning and preparation.

"Not going to school for a lot of them, they probably don't think that far ahead," he said.

"When we're out bush … having little plans and little goals ahead of them, I don't know if they've ever thought about those things."

Changing lives and the community

Wunan Foundation executive chair Ian Trust said he hoped more similar treks would ultimately help drive down high youth crime rates in a town where stolen cars and police chases had caused community angst .

"If we can get to that core group and change them and work with their families, so they're on a different trajectory to what they're currently on, Kununurra will become a better place to live," he said.

Car thefts in Kununurra peaked at 123 in the 2022-23 financial year, but dropped significantly to 74 in the most recent financial year.

Kununurra's population is about 4,500 and about a third of residents are Indigenous.

As leaders welcomed the reduction in crime, funding continued to be poured into the town to tackle the problem of children from dysfunctional homes wandering the streets at night, committing crimes, and not attending school.

While stolen cars remain a problem in Kununurra, numbers have declined in the past year. ( Supplied )

Mr Trust said Wunan would now work with other agencies to ensure children who took part in the trek remained on a positive path.

"So the challenge for us is what to do with these kids, with their lifestyle, after the walk," he said.

"Among all this sort of feel-good stuff, there's got to be a bit of literacy and numeracy … learning how to read and write if they're going to be able to function in society and get a job."

The federal government provided $600,000 of initial funding for the walks.

There's hope youth crime will continue to drop in Kununurra if more youth diversion treks occur. ( ABC Kimberley: Andrew Seabourne )

Wunan had received community donations and there was hope more community backing would make the treks sustainable into the future.

Mr Trust said the program had the potential to save taxpayers' money in the long term.

"If you look at the amount of money spent on sending a kid back and forward to Banksia Hill, the cost of crime, in terms of maintaining children in the criminal justice system," he said.

The next walks are expected to take place in 2025 during the dry season, to avoid searing heat and heavy rains from October through to March.

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Definition of trek noun from the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

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