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trench

n. · v.
US //ˈtɹɛntʃ// UK //tɹˈɛntʃ// trench
  1. 1 military fortification (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    a long, deep hole in the ground where soldiers hide and fight during a war.

    a narrow excavation used in warfare to provide cover for troops from enemy fire.

    Example

    Soldiers lived in the muddy trenches for months during the First World War.

    Example

    The infantry remained hunkered down in the primary trench, waiting for the artillery barrage to cease before attempting an advance across the open field.
  2. 2 archaeology or construction (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Science

    a long, narrow hole dug to find old objects or to lay pipes and cables.

    a rectangular or linear excavation made during an archaeological investigation or for civil engineering purposes.

    Example

    The archaeologists dug a deep trench to look for the walls of the ancient city.

    Example

    The utility company excavated a narrow trench along the pavement to install the new high-speed fibre optic cables.
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  1. 3 ocean floor (n.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Science

    a very deep, long valley on the bottom of the ocean.

    a long, narrow, and extremely deep depression on the ocean floor, typically formed by subduction at a plate boundary.

    Example

    The Mariana Trench is the deepest part of the world's oceans.

    Example

    Oceanic trenches represent the deepest parts of the sea floor and are critical sites for understanding tectonic plate movements.
  2. 4 clothing (n.)
    C1 Advanced Informal

    a short name for a trench coat, which is a long waterproof jacket.

    a colloquial clipping of 'trench coat', referring to a double-breasted waterproof raincoat with a belt.

    Example

    She threw on her beige trench before heading out into the rain.

    Example

    He arrived at the gallery wearing a classic oversized trench, looking every bit the mysterious detective from a noir film.
  3. 5 to dig (v.)
    C2 Proficiency Formal

    to dig long, narrow holes in the ground.

    to excavate or cut long, narrow furrows or ditches into a surface.

    Example

    The workers began to trench the field to improve the water drainage.

    Example

    The landscape architects decided to trench the perimeter of the estate to facilitate a more efficient irrigation system for the new gardens.
Origin

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

Idioms1 entry

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