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to trench
01
to dig a long, narrow hole in the ground
Transitive: to trench the ground
Examples
Construction workers trench the area to lay utility pipes underground.
Gardeners may trench the soil to create irrigation channels for better water flow.
02
to create a deep and often narrow cut or groove in something
Transitive: to trench a cut or groove
Examples
The glacier had trenched deep furrows in the landscape as it moved across the terrain.
Over time, the constant flow of water had trenched a winding path through the limestone cave.
03
to dig a long, narrow excavation in the ground
Intransitive
Examples
The soldiers trenched for hours to create a defensive line against enemy fire.
The construction workers trenched along the roadside to lay new utility pipes.
04
to dig defensive fortifications for protection
Transitive: to trench an area or place
Examples
The soldiers trenched their camp perimeter to defend against enemy attacks.
During wartime, civilians trenched their homes to provide shelter from bombings.
05
to encroach on or invade a domain or right
Intransitive: to trench on a domain or right | to trench upon a domain or right
Examples
The new policy is trenching on individual privacy rights, sparking debates about surveillance and data collection.
The government 's censorship laws are trenching on freedom of speech.
Trench
01
a long narrow hole dug in the ground in which soldiers move and are protected from enemy fire
Examples
The soldiers huddled in the trench, waiting for the signal to advance across no man's land.
Life in the trench was harsh, with constant exposure to the elements and the ever-present threat of enemy fire.
02
any long, narrow excavation or ditch in the ground, regardless of purpose
Examples
The workers dug a trench for the new pipeline.
Gardeners created a trench to plant rows of vegetables.
03
a deep, narrow, steep-sided depression on the ocean floor
Examples
The Mariana Trench is the deepest known part of the ocean.
Earthquakes are often associated with tectonic trenches.
Lexical Tree
entrench
intrench
retrench
trench
