trench
(redirected from trenched)Also found in: Thesaurus, Idioms, Encyclopedia.
trench
(trĕnch)n.
1. A deep furrow or ditch.
2. A long narrow ditch embanked with its own soil and used for concealment and protection in warfare.
3. A long, steep-sided valley on the ocean floor.
v. trenched, trench·ing, trench·es
v.tr.
1. To dig or make a trench or trenches in (land or an area, for example).
2. To place in a trench: trench a pipeline.
v.intr.
1. To dig a trench or trenches.
2. To encroach. Often used with on or upon: "The bishop exceeded his powers, and trenched on those of the king" (Francis Parkman).
3. To verge or border. Often used with on or upon: "a broad playfulness that trenched on buffoonery" (George Meredith).
[Middle English trenche, from Old French, a cutting, slice, from trenchier, to cut, from Vulgar Latin *trincāre, perhaps partly from Latin *trīncāre, to cut in three (from earlier *trīnicāre : Latin rīnī, three each, triple; see trei- in Indo-European roots + Latin -icāre, as in duplicāre, to double, split in two; see duplicate) and partly from a Gaulish root *trink-, to cut, behead, found in Late Latin trincus trincus, a kind of gladiator who was subject to particular Gaulish customs and probably fought until beheaded (of Gaulish origin, perhaps ultimately from a pre-Roman substrate root *trenk-, to cut, or perhaps akin to Latin truncus, trunk; see terə in Indo-European roots).]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
trench
(trɛntʃ)n
1. a deep ditch or furrow
2. (Fortifications) a ditch dug as a fortification, having a parapet of the excavated earth
vb
3. to make a trench in (a place)
4. (Fortifications) (tr) to fortify with a trench or trenches
5. to slash or be slashed
6. (intr; foll by on or upon) to encroach or verge
[C14: from Old French trenche something cut, from trenchier to cut, from Latin truncāre to cut off]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
trench
(trɛntʃ)n.
1. a long, narrow excavation in the ground dug by soldiers as a defense against enemy fire or attack.
2. a deep furrow, ditch, or cut.
3. a long, narrow depression in the deep-sea floor, site of ocean deeps.
v.t. 4. to surround or fortify with trenches; entrench.
5. to cut a trench in.
6. to set or place in a trench.
7. to form (a furrow, ditch, etc.) by cutting into or through something.
8. to make a cut in.
v.i. 9. to dig a trench.
[1350–1400; Middle English trenche path made by cutting < Old French: act of cutting, a cut, derivative of trenchier to cut < Vulgar Latin *trincāre, for Latin truncāre to lop]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
trench
Past participle: trenched
Gerund: trenching
| Imperative |
|---|
| trench |
| trench |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Noun | 1. |  trench - a ditch dug as a fortification having a parapet of the excavated earthapproach trench, communication trench - a trench that provides protected passage between the rear and front lines of a defensive position ditch - a long narrow excavation in the earth entrenchment, intrenchment - an entrenched fortification; a position protected by trenches fire trench - a trench especially constructed for the delivery of small-arms fire slit trench - narrow trench for shelter in battle |
| 2. |  trench - a long steep-sided depression in the ocean floornatural depression, depression - a sunken or depressed geological formation | |
| 3. |  trench - any long ditch cut in the ground ditch - a long narrow excavation in the earth furrow - a long shallow trench in the ground (especially one made by a plow) | |
| Verb | 1. | trench - impinge or infringe upon; "This impinges on my rights as an individual"; "This matter entrenches on other domains" take advantage, trespass - make excessive use of; "You are taking advantage of my good will!"; "She is trespassing upon my privacy" |
| 2. |  trench - fortify by surrounding with trenches; "He trenched his military camp" | |
| 3. |  trench - cut or carve deeply into; "letters trenched into the stone"cut - separate with or as if with an instrument; "Cut the rope" | |
| 4. | trench - set, plant, or bury in a trench; "trench the fallen soldiers"; "trench the vegetables" | |
| 5. |  trench - cut a trench in, as for drainage; "ditch the land to drain it"; "trench the fields" | |
| 6. |  trench - dig a trench or trenches; "The National Guardsmen were sent out to trench" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
trench
noun ditch, cut, channel, drain, pit, waterway, gutter, trough, furrow, excavation, earthwork, fosse, entrenchment Dig a trench at least 2ft deep.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
TranslationsSelect a language:
Spanish / Español
trench
[trentʃ]Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
trench
(trentʃ) noun a long narrow ditch dug in the ground, especially as a protection for soldiers against gunfire. The soldiers returned to the trenches.trinchera
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
trench
→ zanjaMultilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009
trench
n. trinchera, zanja, foso;
___ back → rigidez y dolor de espalda;
___ fever → fiebre de ___, fiebre remitente transmitida por piojos;
___ foot → pie de ___, infección en los pies por exposición al frío;
___ -mouth → infección con ulceración de las mucosas de la boca y la faringe.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012