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Definition of trek

 (Entry 1 of 2)

intransitive verb

Definition of trek  (Entry 2 of 2)

• peregrinate
• peregrination

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.

Word History

Afrikaans, from Dutch trecken to pull, haul, migrate; akin to Old High German trechan to pull

Afrikaans, from Dutch treck pull, haul, from trecken

1835, in the meaning defined at sense 2

1849, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Dictionary Entries Near trek

Treitz's muscle

Cite this Entry

“Trek.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trek. Accessed 13 Apr. 2024.

Kids Definition

Kids definition of trek.

Kids Definition of trek  (Entry 2 of 2)

from Afrikaans trek, "to travel by ox wagon," from Dutch trecken "to haul, pull"

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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Definition of 'trek'

Video: pronunciation 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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• arduous trek
• mountain trek
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Definition of trek noun from the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

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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)

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Definition 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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acting or speaking together, or at the same time

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• 1.1 Alternative forms
• 1.2 Etymology
• 1.3 Pronunciation
• 1.5.1 Related terms
• 1.5.2 Translations
• 1.6 Anagrams
• 2.1 Pronunciation
• 2.2.1.1 Descendants
• 2.3.1.1 Derived terms
• 3.1 Pronunciation
• 3.2.1.1 Derived terms
• 3.4 Anagrams
• 5.1 Pronunciation
• 5.2.1 References

English [ edit ]

Alternative forms [ edit ].

• treck ( archaic )

Etymology [ edit ]

From Afrikaans trek , from Dutch trekken , from Middle Dutch trekken ( weak verb ) and trēken ( “ to trek, place, bring, move ” , strong verb ) , from Old Dutch *trekkan , *trekan , from Proto-West Germanic *trekan , from Proto-Germanic *trekaną , *trakjaną ( “ to drag, haul, scrape, pull ” ) , from Proto-Indo-European *dreg- ( “ to drag, scrape ” ) .

Pronunciation [ edit ]

• enPR : trĕk , IPA ( key ) : /tɹɛk/
• Rhymes: -ɛk

Noun [ edit ]

trek ( plural treks )

• ( South Africa ) A journey by ox wagon.
• ( South Africa ) The Boer migration of 1835-1837.
• 1943 November and December, G. T. Porter, “The Lines Behind the Lines in Burma”, in Railway Magazine , page 327 : Early the next morning I set off on the long and hazardous trek through jungles and hills into Assam, and regretfully said "good-bye" to the gallant little Burma Railways, which had functioned to the last and played a big part in evacuating many thousands of refugees and wounded soldiers in the path of the rapidly advancing Japanese.
• A long walk. Synonym: slog I would drive to the shops from here; you can walk, but it's quite a trek .

Verb [ edit ]

trek ( third-person singular simple present treks , present participle trekking , simple past and past participle trekked )

• 1892 , Robert Louis Stevenson , The Beach of Falesá : Before that they had been a good deal on the move, trekking about after the white man, who was one of those rolling stones that keep going round after a soft job.
• ( intransitive ) To journey on foot , especially to hike through mountainous areas .
• ( South Africa ) To travel by ox wagon .
• ( Nigeria ) To travel by walking .

Related terms [ edit ]

Translations [ edit ], anagrams [ edit ], afrikaans [ edit ].

• IPA ( key ) : /træk/

Etymology 1 [ edit ]

From Dutch trekken .

trek ( present trek , present participle trekkende , past participle getrek )

• to move (moving house)

Descendants [ edit ]

Etymology 2 [ edit ].

From Dutch trek .

trek ( plural trekke )

Derived terms [ edit ]

Dutch [ edit ].

• IPA ( key ) : /trɛk/
• Hyphenation: trek

From Middle Dutch trec , from trecken .

trek   m ( plural trekken , diminutive trekje   n )

• ( uncountable ) appetite Ik heb trek in een reep chocola — I could (now) have a chocolate bar Ik heb geen trek in deze klus — I have no mind to carry out this task
• ( countable ) journey , migration
• ( uncountable ) animal migration
• ( uncountable ) draught , air current through a chimney.
• ( countable ) feature , trait

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

• first-person singular present indicative

French [ edit ]

trek   m ( plural treks )

Ternate [ edit ]

• IPA ( key ) : [ˈtɾek]

References [ edit ]

• Rika Hayami-Allen (2001) A descriptive study of the language of Ternate, the northern Moluccas, Indonesia , University of Pittsburgh, page 30

• English terms borrowed from Afrikaans
• English terms derived from Afrikaans
• English terms derived from Dutch
• English terms derived from Middle Dutch
• English terms derived from Old Dutch
• English terms derived from Proto-West Germanic
• English terms derived from Proto-Germanic
• English terms derived from Proto-Indo-European
• English 1-syllable words
• English terms with IPA pronunciation
• Rhymes:English/ɛk
• Rhymes:English/ɛk/1 syllable
• English terms with audio links
• Requests for audio pronunciation from South Africa in English entries
• English lemmas
• English nouns
• English countable nouns
• South African English
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• English intransitive verbs
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• Afrikaans terms with IPA pronunciation
• Afrikaans terms inherited from Dutch
• Afrikaans terms derived from Dutch
• Afrikaans lemmas
• Afrikaans verbs
• Afrikaans nouns
• Dutch terms with IPA pronunciation
• Dutch terms with audio links
• Rhymes:Dutch/ɛk
• Rhymes:Dutch/ɛk/1 syllable
• Dutch terms inherited from Middle Dutch
• Dutch terms derived from Middle Dutch
• Dutch lemmas
• Dutch nouns
• Dutch nouns with plural in -en
• Dutch masculine nouns
• Dutch uncountable nouns
• Dutch countable nouns
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• French lemmas
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• French terms spelled with K
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proceeding by inquiry or investigation .

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• First recorded in 1650–60.
• Comes via the New Latin word zētēticus , from Greek zētētikós, “inclined to investigate or inquire.”
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the labor involved in maintaining and enhancing family ties, including organizing social occasions, remembering birthdays, sending gifts, etc .

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• First recorded in 1975–80.
• Formed from the words kin , “a person’s relatives,” and keeping , “maintenance.”

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• Despite her busy schedule, she always found time for kinkeeping  such as sending cards for special occasions and organizing family gatherings.
• Kinkeeping became more challenging as the family grew and spread out across different cities and countries.

an artifice or expedient used to evade a rule, escape a consequence, hide something, etc.

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• First recorded in English around 1565–75.
• Comes from the Late Latin word subterfugium , which is similar to the Latin word subterfug ( ere ), meaning “to evade.”
• Subter means “below,” and fugere , “to flee.”

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• Their subterfuge of leaving a decoy package fooled the thieves and protected the valuable merchandise.

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