trench

1 of 2

noun

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

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 vitalSir Winston Churchill
b
: to come close : verge
2
: to dig a trench

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
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Noun
The facts: Charles Macintosh invented the waterproof raincoat—and the streamlined silhouettes for which the brand is known feel far more modern than a trench. Naomi Rougeau, Robb Report, 26 Oct. 2024 Beside her, her close friend Jasmine Tookes echoed that a timeless trench is always a good idea. Freya Drohan, Vogue, 17 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 See all Example Sentences for trench 

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of trench was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near trench

Cite this Entry

“Trench.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trench. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on trench

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