trench

Noun

1. A long, narrow ditch or hole dug in the ground.
2. A narrow excavation as used in warfare, as a cover for besieging or emplaced forces.
3. A pit, usually rectangular with smooth walls and floor, excavated during an archaeological investigation.
4. (informal) A trench coat.

Verb

1. (usually) To invade, especially with regard to the rights or the exclusive authority of another; to encroach.
2. To excavate an elongated pit for protection of soldiers and or equipment, usually perpendicular to the line of sight toward the enemy.
3. To excavate an elongated and often narrow pit.
4. To have direction; to aim or tend.
5. To cut; to form or shape by cutting; to make by incision, hewing, etc.
6. To cut furrows or ditches in.
7. To dig or cultivate very deeply, usually by digging parallel contiguous trenches in succession, filling each from the next.

Pronounced as (IPA)

/tɹɛnt͡ʃ/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: -

In summary

Borrowed into Middle English from Old French trenche. Doublet of tranche and traunch. Possible doublet of English: truncate

Synonyms

ditch

moat

dugout

pit

gutter

channel

groove

canal

dig up

entrenchment

drain

deep

dig

furrow

entrench

oceanic abyss

encroach

burrow

cavity

chase

cut

cut through

dig out

excavate

fosse

gully

hole

🕳️

hollow

impinge

irrigation canal

mine

rout

irrigation ditch

depression

small canal

hack through

appropriate

engrave

character

cavern

usurp

wall

cave

gouge

carve

gulch

watercourse

canyon

hamper

handicap

Translations

tranchée

trinchera

Graben

trincea

trincheira

Schützengraben

trinxera

fossé

loopgraaf

okop

fosso

sloot

fossa

zanja

hendek