trench

1 of 2

noun

ˈtrench 

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

trenches 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

trench

2 of 2

verb

trenched; trenching; trenches

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

Synonyms

Noun

• dike
• ditch
• fosse
• foss
• gutter
• sheugh [chiefly Scottish]
• trough

Verb

• border (on)
• touch (on)
• verge (on)

Examples of trench in a Sentence

Noun

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

Verb

that response trenches on outright rudeness

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

For your next evening out on the town, use Hailey’s outfit formula—layer lace tights beneath a semi-sheer skirt, and add a leather trench on top. —Cortne Bonilla, Vogue, 20 Nov. 2024

Just chop up your pumpkins into small pieces and bury them directly in your beds in 12-inch-deep trenches. —Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Oct. 2024

Verb

These technologies have the potential to revolutionize city planning and civil engineering for physical infrastructure from bridges, roads and sewers to trenching fiber lines. —John Lockhart, Forbes, 11 Sep. 2024

He is believed to remain at large in the vast warren of tunnels trenched beneath Gaza, moving frequently and possibly surrounded by hostages as human shields, US officials believe. —Hira Humayun, CNN, 10 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

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

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing trench

• slit trench
• trench coat
• trench fever
• trench foot
• trench mouth
• trench warfare

Kids Definition

trench

noun

ˈtrench

1

a

: a long narrow cut in the ground : ditch

b

: a ditch protected by a bank of earth used to shelter soldiers

2

: a long narrow steep-sided depression in the ocean floor