noun
trench
TREHNCH
noun
1
A long, narrow ditch dug into the ground, whether by machines, tools, or natural erosion.
"Workers dug a trench to lay the new water pipe."
2
A deep, narrow defensive ditch used by soldiers in war.
"Soldiers spent months living in the trenches during the war."
verb
1
To dig a long narrow ditch.
"The crew trenched along the field to install drainage."
How to Use Trench
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA long narrow ditch — either a practical one dug for pipes or drainage, or a defensive one dug by soldiers.
Common pairings
dig a trench
trench warfare
in the trenches
Word Forms
trenched past tense, trenches plural, Trenches plural, trenches singular
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Workers dug a _____ to lay the new water pipe.
Etymology
Borrowed from Old French trenche, from trenchier, "to cut" — the same French root that gave English trench also produced trench coat and, distantly, truncate.