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| trench [ trench ] |
noun (plural trench·es) |
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| Definition: |
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1. ditch with steep sides: a long deep hole dug in the ground, usually with steep or vertical sides
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2. military protection against enemy fire: a long excavation, often with the excavated earth banked up in front, used as a defense against enemy fire
  warfare conducted in the trenches
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3. oceanography valley on ocean floor: a long narrow valley on an ocean or sea floor
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verb (past and past participle trenched, present participle trench·ing, 3rd person present singular trench·es) |
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| Definition: |
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1. transitive and intransitive verb dig trench in something: to dig a long deep hole in or through something
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2. transitive verb put something in trench: to place something such as a pipe in a trench
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3. transitive verb military fortify something with trenches: to fortify a position with trenches as a defense against enemy fire
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| [14th century. < Old French trenche "ditch, cutting, slice" < trenchier "to cut" < Latin truncare "cut (off)" < truncus "tree trunk"] |
