graben
- noun
- /ˈɡræbən/
- Archaic
:
zanja
- The farmers dug a graben to redirect rainwater away from their fields.
Examples
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The engineers constructed a graben to improve drainage in the valley.
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In ancient times, soldiers often built a graben for defense around their encampments.
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As the huge, salty Mediterranean evaporated and receded, that graben retained some of the water.
Academic text (2003)
Synonyms
44
3.8
A long narrow ditch in the ground used for drainage or protection
4
3.2
A narrow channel dug in the ground that carries away extra water
3
3.3
A narrow channel dug to bring water to fields for farming
1
9.9
A ditch dug around a building and often filled with water to stop attackers
An open channel beside a road that carries rainwater
A ditch with one side formed by a low wall that divides land without blocking the view
How Deep
Surface Forms
Etymology
Graben comes from German, where graben means 'to dig' and 'ditch', so in older or local English it names a dug trench used for drainage or defence.