trek

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trek / trek/ • n. a long arduous journey, esp. one made on foot: a trek to the South Pole. ∎ a tourist hike.• v. (trekked, trek·king) [intr.] go on a long arduous journey, typically on foot: we trekked through the jungle. ∎  chiefly S. Afr., hist. migrate or journey with one's belongings by ox-wagon. ∎  [intr.] S. Afr. (of an ox) draw a vehicle or pull a load. ∎ S. Afr. travel constantly from place to place; lead a nomadic life: my plan is to trek about seeing the world.DERIVATIVES: trek·ker n.ORIGIN: mid 19th cent.: from South African Dutch trek (noun), trekken (verb) ‘pull, travel.’

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