definition a trek

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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.

to hike long distances as a recreational activity, especially over rough terrain: He's trekked through the Himalayas and summited Mt. Kilimanjaro.

to make a short but difficult trip on foot: We trekked back to our hotel in the pouring rain.

South Africa . to travel by ox wagon.

South Africa . (of a draft animal) to draw (a vehicle or load).

a slow or difficult journey, hike, or trip.

South Africa .

a migration or expedition, especially by ox wagon.

a stage of such a journey, between one stopping place and the next.

Origin of trek

Other words from trek.

• un·trekked, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for trek

/ ( trɛk ) /

a long and often difficult journey

Southern African a journey or stage of a journey, esp a migration by ox wagon

(intr) to make a trek

(tr) Southern African (of an ox, etc) to draw (a load)

Derived forms of trek

• trekker , noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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Definition of trek noun from the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

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• 2 ( informal ) a long walk synonym tramp It's a long trek into town.

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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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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

Thesaurus Entries Near trek

Cite this entry.

“Trek.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trek. Accessed 12 Apr. 2024.

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Nglish: Translation of trek for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of trek for Arabic Speakers

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Hiking Vs Trekking

Learn the difference between hiking and trekking.

• hiking vs trekking
• Benefits of hiking & trekking
• Beginner's guide to hike

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Trekking and hiking are oftentimes used as synonyms, but is that correct? If you can’t answer with certainty, continue reading. Learn about hiking vs trekking and back up your enthusiasm for the outdoors with knowledge of the terms.

Hiking and trekking , two activities that most adventurers deeply enjoy. The two terms are used online interchangeably, as though it’s the same thing. But is it?

Not at all! Turns out, these are two very different activities. To clear things up, we crafted this hiking vs. trekking guide. In this guide, we’ll cover:

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HIKING AND TREKKING

Hiking   involves a long energetic walk in a natural environment on hiking trails or footpaths for a day or overnight.

Trekking   involves a long vigorous hike in wild natural environment for multiple days. It can be done off hiking trails.

WHAT ARE THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF HIKING AND TREKKING?

As well as fun and riveting, hiking and trekking can improve your mental and physical health. Here are just a few benefits of hiking and trekking:

1. IT LOWERS THE RISK OF HEART DISEASE AND IMPROVES YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE

Hiking and trekking are both amazing for your health!

A  study conducted by the CD C  recommends that you walk at least an hour a day, five days a week. This reduces the risk of you having a stroke in half!  Hiking and trekking regularly improves your heart and blood pressure, minimizing the chance of stroke. 

Keep that blood pumping!

2. BETTER OVERALL FITNESS.

These activities do amazing things to your muscles. Build up strength in your thighs, lower leg muscles, hip muscles and hamstrings.  It also builds your endurance. Hiking and trekking are both weight-bearing exercises, which build up bone density.  Trekking also boosts your core strength as you hike with a heavy backpack.

The more you do, the more your overall strength and fitness improves.

3. IMPROVES YOUR MENTAL HEALTH.

Get away from the stress of everyday life and escape to the outdoors.  Stress, depression and anxiety have a way of building up when you’re cooped up indoors too long.  Hitting the trail helps to put your life in perspective and take your mind off your worries.

The world around you has a way of demanding your attention, which can ease any stress you may have built up.

4. HIKING AND TREKKING BURNS CALORIES.

Looking to lose weight? Or tone your muscles? Forget the gym and hit the trail instead.

Hiking burns between 440 and 550 calories per hour according to  Livestrong research . Imagine how many calories will an overnight hike or a week-long trek burn. Burning calories helps you lose weight and tone your muscles.

5. IT MAKES YOU CREATIVE.

On top of all the physical and mental boosts, hiking and trekking can also make you more creative. It’s true! Spending time outdoors and soaking all the Vitamin D from the sunlight can improve your mind. Vitamin D, “the sunshine vitamin,” increases attention span, and improves our ability to focus. Put a creative spin on our problem-solving skills.

Vitamin D is also great for maintaining healthy bones and teeth, supporting your immune system and boosting cardiovascular health.

BEGINNER'S GUIDE TO HIKING: WHERE DO I START?

Convinced you need to do more hiking? Here are a few tips on where to start:

• Start with day hikes. If you want to get out there more, start with day hikes. Spend an afternoon strolling around your local park, or drive to the closest forest for an afternoon hike. Make this your routine and increase the length and amount of hikes you take over time.
• Join your local hiking community. While hiking on your own can be very inspirational and spiritualizing, it often gives very little motivation to get out there again, especially on longer hikes. By joining your local hiking community, you’ll meet like-minded people, who will hike with you and motivate you to keep on hiking. 
• Go on an overnight hike. Grab a friend and go on an overnight hike with a tent and a sleeping bag. Test your physical condition by hiking for 5 hours and see if you’re ready to try trekking.
• Get proper hiking boots . If you feel like longer forms of hiking are for you, get some proper hiking boots, a durable tent and a warm sleeping bag with pad. Your hiking boots should be waterproof with a good sole and ankle support. Properly wear them in before a long-distance hike.

Go on a trek . Once you’ve been on a few overnight hikes and got the necessary hiking gear, go on a multi-day trek . Join one of our awesome hiking tours exploring the Icelandic Highlands .

Good quality hiking and trekking equipment is essential. High-quality equipment will allow you to enjoy your hikes and treks even more and stay safe and warm no matter the weather!

Here’s a list of equipment that is worth the investment:

• Hiking boots. For short day hikes, comfortable sneakers might do it but for longer overnight hikes good hiking shoes or boots are essential. For trekking, you might want to think about boots with ankle support. Don’t forget to wear in your shoes before you go on a hike. Read more about the best hiking shoes and boots here .
• A backpack. For day hikes, a light day backpack with a hydration pack is perfect. For longer hikes and treks, where you need to carry your food and tent, a 50-60L backpack should suffice. Make sure it has a waist belt and adjustable back support.
• A tent . Your accommodation for the duration of your trip should be sturdy. If you intend to hike during warmer seasons, a 3 season tent will do, yet if you plan to hike during winter, make sure your tent has a skirt and can withstand wind, rain, and snow.
• A sleeping bag. When buying a sleeping bag, adhere to the comfort temperatures provided by the manufacturer. Usually, there are three numbers: comfort, limit, and extreme. Comfort is the temperature at which a female will rest comfortably, limit - a male comfort temperature, extreme - the lowest temperature at which female will be able to sleep for 6 hours without the risk of hypothermia.

Compass, maps, and a GPS device. Before you go on any hiking trip, make sure you have a detailed map of the area. For longer treks, it’s good to have a GPS device or a compass too. Make sure you know how to use them.

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‘Star Trek Discovery’s Connection to ‘The Next Generation’

• The USS Discovery embarks on a red directive mission with ties to Star Trek lore, focusing on the Progenitors' technology.
• New faces join the crew on a mission to uncover an artifact related to the Progenitors in the Next Generation era.
• The technology to create life poses a powerful threat if misused, as Moll and L'ak aim to sell the artifact to the highest bidder.

The first two episodes of Star Trek: Discovery Season 5 are finally available on Paramount+, putting Captain Michael Burnham ( Sonequa Martin-Green ) and the crew of the U.S.S. Discovery back on the boldly going business. This time, they're not going another 800 years into the future, but instead, their mission has a connection to another time: the Star Trek: The Next Generation era. Back then, Captain Jean-Luc Picard ( Patrick Stewart ) once led the U.S.S. Enterprise-D on a mission that uncovered the secrets of life itself as we know it . It may have been a one-episode story, but it's now getting the proper arc it deserves; the time has finally come to learn the secrets of the Progenitors.

Star Trek: Discovery

Taking place almost a decade before Captain Kirk's Enterprise, the USS Discovery charts a course to uncover new worlds and life forms.

Release Date September 24, 2017

Cast Oyin Oladejo, Emily Coutts, Anthony Rapp, Sonequa Martin-Green, Doug Jones, Mary Wiseman

Main Genre Sci-Fi

Genres Drama, Sci-Fi, Action, Adventure

Rating TV-14

The Discovery Is Given a Red Directive Mission by Dr. Kovich

The final season of Discovery starts off with its foot on the door, with ties to past Star Trek lore and the return of Dr. Kovich ( David Cronenberg ), which always means business for the Discovery crew. This time, his mission is so important that it interrupts a Starfleet event, but can't be disclosed because it's a red directive (a mission of a highly classified and dangerous nature that takes precedence over all other tasks) . Captain Burnham doesn't like the idea of keeping secrets from her crew, but since the Discovery is the only ship that can take this mission thanks to its spore drive, she accepts it.

The secretive mission introduces some new faces to Discovery , including couriers, Moll ( Eve Harlow ) and L'ak ( Elias Toufexis ), as well as U.S.S. Antares Captain Rayner ( Callum Keith Rennie ). The mission was to retrieve an artifact from a Romulan science ship that had been adrift for 800 years, but Moll and L'ak beat them to it, then take the artifact to the planet, Q'mau, where the synthetic antique dealer, Fred ( J. Adam Brown ), opens it up and reveals a diary written by the Romulan scientist, Vellek ( Michael Copeman ). Even though Moll and L'ak have escaped Starfleet in Q'mau, Admiral Charles Vance ( Oded Fehr ) helps officer Sylvia Tilly ( Mary Wiseman ) obtain information on Vellek.

As it turns out, Vellek was once part of a group that—under the leadership of Captain Jean-Luc Picard —attempted to solve the mystery of the planet Vilmor II. There, they found out about a race of humanoid aliens known only as the Progenitors , who have created life in its humanoid form and are the common link between all present humanoid species in the galaxy. The Discovery's mission, however, isn't about the Progenitors themselves, but rather about the technology they used to do what they did.

The Progenitors’ Story Comes From a Single Episode in ‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’

Season 6, Episode 20 of The Next Generation , "The Chase," is one of the wildest in the entire series. For the first time ever, a Star Trek episode shows Humans, Klingons, Romulans, and more together in the same scene. That's all thanks to one of the most interesting plots in the franchise, which sees these races coming together to discover the secret of their common origin. Unfortunately, The Next Generation didn't carry on with this plotline, but Discovery is finally giving it the sequence it deserves.

"The Chase" starts off with Captain Picard meeting his old mentor, Professor Galen ( Norman Lloyd ), aboard the Enterprise-D. The scholar is there to recruit Picard for a long-term mission that will result in the most important scientific discovery of their time, but Picard can't give up his post on Starfleet. Picard decides to take the Enterprise-D and finish what Galen started. He begins by analyzing the data his mentor had gathered (large blocks of numbers laid out in a sort of sequence). Following this trail, he eventually discovers that the numbers are actually a DNA sequence. On the planet, Loren III, Picard intervenes and mediates their conflict upon learning that both of them are there for the same reason the Enterpreise-D is, calling for them to analyze the combined DNA strands they have. They learn that those are all part of a puzzle, with each sequence complementing one another, but that there are still missing pieces.

The Enterprise-D follows the Cardassians to Vilmor II with the Klingon emissary on board, and they find out the planet has lichen growing on the dried-up ocean floor. Discreetly, Dr. Beverly Crusher ( Gates McFadden ) inserts all the DNA samples they now have onto her tricorder, which then projects the recording of a humanoid woman ( Salome Jens ). Thankfully, everyone stops arguing to listen to the projection, as the woman explains that she belonged to a race of ancient aliens from 4.5 billion years earlier. Her species eventually came to terms with their extinction, but they sowed pieces of their own DNA on many planets where life could grow across the galaxy as a way of ensuring a lasting legacy . Their intention was for all those future species to come together upon discovering their shared ancestry . Cardassians and Klingons immediately resume their bickering, unable to accept that they have anything in common. Later, Picard ponders with the Romulans that one day, in the future, perhaps all species will learn to coexist for the sake of their shared ancestry.

Where Does This Leave Captain Burnham and the Discovery Crew?

The race of ancient humanoids is never named onscreen, but they are referred to as the Progenitors from then on. With Discovery finally finishing this loose thread in Star Trek lore, it's important to ponder that the Progenitors must have used powerful tech to sow their DNA across the galaxy, which is what the overall plot of the season is going to be. The technology to create life is powerful by definition , and can be used for terrible things if it falls in the wrong hands. Right now, Moll and L'ak have the diary, but they're unwilling to cooperate with the Federation after a failed negotiation attempt by Cleveland "Book" Booker ( David Ajala ). However, they're looking to sell the diary to the highest bidder.

After the events of the first part of the season premiere , "Red Directive," Captain Rayner has been discharged from his command of the U.S.S. Antares. As sad as it is to see an officer of 30-plus years being discharged, it's also very serendipitous, as Captain Burnham is in need of a new number one for the Discovery as Saru ( Doug Jones ) is about to take a new diplomatic post for the Federation. During their chase on Q'mau, Rayner mentions that he has history chasing Moll and L'ak, which will surely come in handy . Also, Book finds out he has a past connection to Moll that makes them all but family, which is another potential lead to finding her.

Star Trek: Discovery is available to watch on Paramount+ in the U.S.

Watch on Paramount+

• The Inventory

Discovery Is Opening Star Trek 's Biggest Pandora's Box

The fifth and final season of star trek: discovery has put a reveal that even the next generation dared not touch at its heart, in some fascinating ways..

This week, Star Trek: Discovery kicked off its final season with a bold adventure—one with intimate ties to a classic Star Trek: The Next Generation story no other show in the franchise has dared to follow up on. In doing so, it’s opening up the kinds of opportunities that only Discovery really can—but it requires a delicate balancing act in the process.

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It’s fitting that Discovery ’s fifth season premiere opened on the week of what is known as First Contact Day to Star Trek fans. Just under four decades from today, during the events of, well, Star Trek: First Contact , humankind meets its first alien civilization in the Vulcans, and finds itself thrust into a much bigger galaxy than it could have ever imagined after years of devastating nuclear conflict. What better reveal then, that Discovery ’s last season will build itself around the mystery of the ultimate first contact—a chase for the alien civilization that kickstarted humanoid life across the galaxy in the first place?

This is the twist Michael Burnham discovers at the climax of Discovery season five’s first episode, “Red Directive.” The mysterious mission she’s been kept in the dark about all episode, racing after mysterious pirates and a centuries-old Romulan puzzlebox, involves a species now dubbed “The Progenitors,” an ancient precursor civilization that first became known to Starfleet and other galactic societies during the Next Generation season six episode, “The Chase”.

It’s an episode with fascinating parallels to the season-arching narrative Discovery wants to go out on, though it’s an adventure in just one hour of TV instead of a whole season. After crossing paths with his old archaeology professor, Captain Picard finds himself on a treasure hunt across the galaxy, with rival factions in the Klingons, Cardassians, and eventually the Romulans (leading to Discovery ’s way in, fictional centuries and actual decades later), after it’s discovered that the professor had discovered a secret that could either bind the whole of galactic civilization together—or shatter it to pieces, just as Burnham is warned of her own mission. While his rivals believe they’re on the hunt of an almighty weapon, ultimately what Picard and the other powers at play discover on Vilmor II is truth, and knowledge.

A holographic message from a bald, humanoid being—played beautifully such a short time by Salome Jens, who would go on to play a similar looking but altogether more horrifying Star Trek alien in her role as the Female Changeling heading the Dominion’s invasion of the Alpha Quadrant in Deep Space Nine —reveals that her species, long dead, evolved too soon to meet similar sentient life in the galaxy. So, in the hopes of spreading their legacy across the stars, they seeded life in their image—bipedal, humanoid, smooth-skinned, and (for the most part) hairless—across the galaxy, and left clues so that one day when that life evolved and took to the stars as they had, they could discover their shared origin, and do so together .

“The Chase” concludes on an optimistic, but non-committal note, in spite of the gravity of its reveal that intelligence design doesn’t just exist in Star Trek , but is both a fun metatextual answer to why most aliens in the franchise conveniently look like humans in various color palettes and with extraneous latex bits, and also a piece of worldbuilding that fundamentally reshapes its whole universe. While the Klingons and Cardassians, who’d assumed they were hunting for power and technology, are disgusted by the thought of common ancestry, Captain Picard and his Romulan counterpart express that the revelation could one day bring peace—not just between their own civilizations, but across the entire galaxy.

Star Trek promptly never went there again, boldly or otherwise.

There have been Star Trek stories since that examine the evolution of life across its universe—like Voyager ’s fascinating “Distant Origin,” where a scientist from a Delta quadrant species called the Voth discovers they are descended from Earth’s dinosaurs—but it took three decades for the franchise to pick up directly where “The Chase” left things off as Discovery did this week. It’s already expanded upon the episode, giving the alien species an alternative name in the “Progenitors,” as well as the revelation from Michael’s quest that they did not just leave behind their knowledge, but elements of the actual technology they used to shape life after the decline of their civilization... technology that yes, now, as the Klingons and Cardassians dreamed of in “The Chase,” could be weaponized in certain hands.

It’s already interesting that Discovery would take what was, well, a discovery of knowledge, and turn it into a more tangible, galaxy-threatening object. But it’s also interesting in what Star Trek says about itself only just picking up on the potential of “The Chase” now , not just in terms of the actual, literal decades its been since that TNG episode, but in picking it up in Star Trek: Discovery , a series now set in the furthest point of time any series of the show has regularly taken place in, the 32nd century. We already know that the Progenitors’ dream of unity among its myriad descendants has not happened—just four years after “The Chase,” the Alpha Quadrant is torn apart with Salome Jens’ return as the Female Changeling, and with her the start of the Dominion War . We know further still that, by the time Burnham and her crew have jettisoned themselves into the 32nd century, the galaxy is no more united that in was in their original time—if anything, it’s more divided than it had been in centuries, the Federation and Starfleet shattered into disparate pieces by the impact of “The Burn” and the diminishment of warp travel explored in Discovery season three.

Star Trek is forever in the process of progress toward the utopia it’s always maintained it has attained in the first place— always challenging its ideals to strengthen them, and challenging them through conflict and division. But it says a lot that 30 years ago the franchise laid out the ultimate pathway to peace, and that utopic aim across the stars, and then simply... did not touch it again until now.

And yet, perhaps it’s perfect that it is Star Trek: Discovery that’s decided to pick up the pieces. Time will tell just what happens in Michael and her crew’s adventure across the galaxy to find all the puzzle pieces they need, and just what shape this Progenitor technology will eventually take. But Star Trek: Discovery has, across its lifetime, always championed the power of connection—on individual and galactic scales—in the face of adversity, and come out on top time and time again. In season four , Captain Burnham already achieved the seeming impossibility of peaceful first contact with an extragalactic race unlike anything the shared-ancestry siblings of Star Trek ’s galaxy had ever really known before. After that, exploring the untouched legacy of one of The Next Generation ’s most fascinating episodes—and perhaps finding a way to make that power of connection really tangible across its universe—is definitely something that could be on the cards. For a show that has pushed Star Trek ’s continuity further and further forward across its life, doing so would be a fitting achievement to go out on.

Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel , Star Wars , and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV , and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who .

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How Star Trek's Most Underrated Villains Wreaked Havoc From Deep Space 9 to Picard

Star Trek enemies like the Borg and Klingons have been a thorn on the Federation's side, but only one underrated villain has caused the most damage.

• The Dominion is a powerful alien empire in Star Trek that challenged the Federation like never before.
• While the Klingons, Romulans, and Borg evolved over time, the Dominion remained a second-tier villain.
• Star Trek: Picard's third season saw the Dominion return strong, with a complex plot and characters.

Star Trek has always featured compelling villainous aliens, many of whom have arcs and collective journeys as rich as any individual character. The Klingons, for instance, have gone from the Federation's greatest foes to fierce allies and antiheroes. The Romulan Empire similarly underwent rapid disintegration in the late 24th century and re-unified with their genetic cousins, the Vulcans, in later seasons of Star Trek: Discovery . Even the Borg changed over the course of the franchise, as individuals like Seven of Nine escaped the Collective and threats like Species 8472 proved more than they could handle. That dedication to their organic development has helped make them truly memorable foes, not only in Star Trek , but in pop culture as a whole.

One villainous species tends to get a little lost in the shuffle, however. The Dominion -- a powerful alien empire controlled by shape-shifting Changelings -- proved to be one of the deadliest foes the Federation ever faced. They launched a war against the Alpha Quadrant during the final seasons of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, forcing Starfleet to join forces with traditional enemies like the Romulans in the face of the common threat. Despite that, the Dominion itself is often relegated to second-tier villain status. Star Trek: Picard's triumphant third season successfully returned them to the spotlight, and reminded fans how terrifying they could be as antagonists.

The Dominion Were Designed as an Existential Threat

The complete history of the klingons in star trek's next generation era.

Deep Space Nine cemented a big transition for the franchise, moving away from Gene Roddenberry's beliefs in an absolute utopia. A Federation devoid of conflict was no place to tell compelling stories, which The Original Series solved by presenting solely external threats in its planet-of-the-week format. Star Trek: The Next Generation successfully broke out of that mold, though its early seasons were plagued by problems caused by the infamous "Roddenberry Box" forbidding intrapersonal conflicts among the crew. The incursion of the Borg in Season 3, Episode 26, "The Best of Both Worlds, Part I" definitively broke the Box, with Will Riker taking command of the Enterprise amid constant head-butting from his de facto Number One, Elizabeth Shelby.

As The Next Generation continued to explore the story potential of protagonists with differing opinions, Deep Space Nine fully committed to the dark side of the 24th century. Set aboard a rickety former mining station near the planet Bajor, it looked for drama within the limits of the Federation's power, and how characters like Captain Benjamin Sisko have to sometimes make compromises for the greater good. The Dominion proved to be the perfect fulcrum for that as a technologically advanced fascist theocracy, ruled by the Changelings who condition their subjects to worship them as gods. Besides their technological advantages, the Dominion's military forces are truly terrifying.

The ground troops are genetically engineered constructs known as the Jem'Hadar; they are bred to be soldiers and physically dependent upon a chemical called ketracel white to ensure their absolute loyalty. Their commanders, administrators and tactical advisors are a species known as Vorta, who are preternaturally cunning and built to influence foes with honeyed words before unleashing the Dominion's full forces on them. Worst of all were the Changelings themselves, who could perfectly imitate anyone they wished and who would abduct key personnel and replace them with duplicates to sow distrust and discord. On top of all that, they had a vast empire of slave labor at their command, and with the Bajoran wormhole providing a conduit to the Alpha Quadrant, they potentially had the ability to overrun the Federation in a manner of days.

The Dominion Pushed the Moral Limits of The Federation

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The Dominion were designed the way they were in order to push the Starfleet characters -- specifically Sisko -- into making compromised choices for the sake of survival . That included below-the-belt tactics such as mining the entrance to the wormhole to prevent any ships from getting through, and Section 31's use of biological warfare to infect the Changeling collective with a fatal virus. The most telling moment came with Season 6, Episode 19, " In the Pale Moonlight ," in which Sisko has a hand in forgery, duplicity and murder in order to bring the Romulans into the war.

It is perhaps Star Trek's darkest moment, and a canny exploration of the franchise's famous adage, "the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few." Sisko's efforts bore fruit, and the united Alpha Quadrant was finally able to push the Dominion and its allies to the point of capitulation at the end of Season 7. But the cost was terrible, with millions dead and vast regions of the Alpha Quadrant devastated by war . The Dominion retreated back to the other side of the wormhole, and Odo -- a wayward Changeling who helped convince his people to halt the fighting -- returned to the collective to help end their distrust of "the solids."

As antagonists, they worked incredibly well, thanks in part to a slow build-up that left their origins and motives in the dark until they were well into their infiltration of the Alpha Quadrant. They provided the ideal crucible to test the Federation's principles under fire. While Roddenberry's bright future survived, it emerged with scars that never quite healed. Not even the Borg could top the Dominion as foes, and fans have even gamed out a hypothetical conflict between the Dominion and the Borg, with more or less even odds on which species will prevail.

Despite that, their footprint in the franchise is much smaller than other major antagonists. They returned to the Gamma Quadrant after the war, and essentially vanished with the series finale of Deep Space Nine. With its sister series Star Trek: Voyager focusing on the Borg , and the follow-up Star Trek: Enterprise taking place centuries before the opening of the wormhole, there was no convenient way to resurrect them. The franchise simply moved on, and the Dominion was left collecting dust on the shelves.

Picard Gives The Dominion the Comeback They Deserve

How deep space nine elevated the ferengi from jokes to serious characters.

The latter-day Star Trek renaissance provided an opportunity to do something special with the Dominion. Picard Season 3 depicted a dying, vengeance-obsessed Borg queen pairing up with a radical faction of Changelings to take another run at destroying the Earth. They replace key Starfleet members and sabotage the transporters aboard most of its starships by infecting those who use it with a subtle hormone that allows the Borg Queen to take control of them remotely. The complex plot sees Picard and the reunited crew of the Enterprise-D work to uncover the truth before the sinister coalition springs its trap.

Beyond the cleverness of the plot and its borderline horror-movie premise, Amanda Plummer's Changeling Vadic cements herself as an instant fan favorite. She and her cohorts were captured and experimented on during the Dominion War, rendering them traumatized and filled with hate. Plummer always excels in eccentric roles, which feels like a being who hasn't quite mastered the art of humanoid emotional expression. She's manic, mercurial, and extremely bad at hiding the depths of her hatred.

While Vadic meets her just fate before seeing her plans come to fruition, her presence lingers in the series' final few episodes, to the point of outclassing the Borg Queen herself. She also gives a face to the Changelings, who were usually by definition disguised as someone else. Their representative (known only as "female Changeling") was presumptuous and cold, which forms a stark contrast with Vadic's onscreen villain. It demonstrates the effects of their defeat on the Dominion's self-styled god-rulers.

Picard helps the Dominion demonstrate a viable arc over time, in the same manner as the Klingons, the Romulans and the Borg. Fans can see how the loss has affected them as individuals, as well as the political fallout from it all. Vadic belongs to a splinter group rather than the bulk of the collective. It gives them the depth and sense of continuity they need to rightfully join the ranks of elite Star Trek villains . With Picard opening the door to further appearances, and with other antagonists suffering from decades of overuse, an extended return could help define the future of the franchise.

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Star Trek: Picard are both streaming in their entirety on Paramount+.

The Star Trek universe encompasses multiple series, each offering a unique lens through which to experience the wonders and perils of space travel. Join Captain Kirk and his crew on the Original Series' voyages of discovery, encounter the utopian vision of the Federation in The Next Generation, or delve into the darker corners of galactic politics in Deep Space Nine. No matter your preference, there's a Star Trek adventure waiting to ignite your imagination.