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off-trail

off-trail

2 5.9
Away from a marked path when walking in nature
  • adverb
  • /ɔf treɪl/
translation icon : fuera de sendero
  • To sum it up, the Route 302 corridor offers almost endless opportunities for on-trail and off-trail adventures.
  • off-trail hike
  • off-trail hiking
  • go off-trail

And I remember going out off trail trying to find, like, where this sound was coming from.

Examples

  • And if you're really off-trail and rock-hopping, the odds go up because there are more cricks and crevices, and there aren't other people around flushing them out.

    Blog text (25)
  • Before setting out, make sure you have a map, especially if you plan to hike off-trail.

  • And I remember going out off trail trying to find, like, where this sound was coming from.

  • The best way to take it all in is with off-trail hikes and a bit of canyoneering.

    Blog text (9)
  • Many hikers enjoy the adventure of exploring off-trail areas in search of hidden landscapes.

  • Off-trail routes can lead you to spectacular views that aren't visible from maintained paths.

Synonyms

off the beaten path
vsoff-trail
  • US
9 6.0

In a place most people do not visit

describes leaving an established outdoor route even if the place is not remote
off the beaten track
vsoff-trail
  • UK
3 6.5

In a place far from where most people go

focuses on leaving a marked route rather than just distance from others
off-piste
vsoff-trail
  • UK
1 8.7

Skiing in areas away from marked, prepared ski runs that are not patrolled

refers generally to leaving established outdoor routes rather than skiing only

How Off Trail

off-trail
2 5.9
trailside
3.7

Surface Forms

off-trail positive

Morphology

off-trail = trail (transparent) = off + trail

The meaning is a straightforward combination of 'off' + 'trail' meaning 'away from the trail', which learners can infer from the components. [Postprocessing: moved 'off' from base_words to prefix]

Etymology

The word off-trail is made of off ('away from') and trail ('path' or 'track'). So off-trail means going away from the marked path, like stepping off a hiking trail into the wild to find rare flowers, which explains why it means not following the set route.