trench

¹trench

noun \ˈtrench\

Definition of TRENCH

1

a : a long cut in the ground : ditch; especially : one used for military defense often with the excavated dirt thrown up in front

b plural : a place, position, or level at which an activity is carried on in a manner likened to trench warfare —often used in the phrase in the trenches <activists working in the trenches>

2

: a long, narrow, and usually steep-sided depression in the ocean floor — compare trough

3

: trench coat

Examples of TRENCH

1. <dug a trench and filled it with water in an attempt to keep the forest fire off her property>

Origin of TRENCH

Middle English trenche track cut through a wood, from Anglo-French, act of cutting, ditch, from trencher, trenchier to cut, probably from Vulgar Latin *trinicare to cut in three, from Latin trini three each — more at trine

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to TRENCH

Synonyms

dike, fosse (or foss), gutter, sheugh [chiefly Scottish], ditch, trough

Related Words

acequia [Southwest], culvert, drain, draw, gully (also gulley), ravine; drill, furrow; ha-ha, moat, stank [British dialect], sunk fence; kennel

Other Military Terms

bivouac, logistics, petard, salient, sally, supernumerary, tactical

Rhymes with TRENCH

bench, Bench, blench, clench, drench, french, French, Hench, quench, stench, tench, wench, wrench

²trench

verb

Definition of TRENCH

transitive verb

1

: to make a cut in : carve

2

a : to protect with or as if with a trench

b : to cut a trench in : ditch

intransitive verb

1

a : entrench, encroach <trenching on other domains which were more vital — Sir Winston Churchill>

b : to come close : verge

2

: to dig a trench

First Known Use of TRENCH

15th century