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to trench

to trench

7.7
To dig trenches around a place to make it stronger against attack
  • verb
  • /trɛnʧ/
translation icon : excavar trincheras
  • Before the battle commenced, the commanding officer instructed his men to trench around their position for better security.

Examples

  • So, for example, when the IRA trenched all but one of the roads from Macroom to Killarney, they were intentionally creating a bottleneck that the British convoy drove straight into.

    Blog text (5)
  • Sean O'Hegarty, Commandant of the local IRA 1st Cork Brigade, ordered his men to trench the secondary road that could possibly have been used to bypass the ambush site.

    Blog text (5)
  • One must admit that they built their trenches very well.

  • Did aircraft attack the trenches with bombs or guns?

  • The Romans used this time to dig a long trench back from their line in order to prevent a Belgay attack on the flanks.

  • The first two acted as a screen whilst the back line dug trenches as the start of a fortified camp.

  • The first two acted as a screen whilst the back line dug trenches as the start of a fortified camp.

  • During the siege, the soldiers were ordered to trench the perimeter of the camp to improve their defenses against enemy attacks.

  • To protect the army from enemy fire, engineers were sent to trench the battlefield, creating a fortified zone.

Synonyms

to wall
vsto trench
41 6.4

To surround an area with a wall to protect it

uses excavated earthworks around an area rather than above ground barriers
to dig a trench
vsto trench
2 3.5

To make a long narrow hole in the ground for pipes or to carry water away

focuses on surrounding an area with excavated earthworks specifically for defense
to build a moat
vsto trench
2 7.4

To dig a deep, wide ditch around a building and fill it with water to protect it

uses excavated earthworks for military protection rather than water filled barriers
to intrench
vsto trench
  • Archaic
9.9

To dig a trench to make a position stronger to defend it

focuses on surrounding an area with excavated earthworks for military defense
to fort
vsto trench
  • Archaic
9.6

To hide in a strong place to stay safe

uses excavated earthworks around an area for defense rather than a strong building

Phrasal Verbs

To make a long narrow hole in the ground for pipes or to carry water away

Compounds

22 3.1

A long waterproof coat with a belt and deep pockets, often worn in a military style

trench warfare
  • Specialized
2 6.5

A way of fighting where soldiers attack, defend, and live in long trenches facing each other

trench foot
  • Specialized
1 8.4

A foot problem from long cold, wet exposure that causes pain, swelling, and numbness

trench mouth
  • Specialized
1 9.3

A very painful gum infection that causes mouth sores, bleeding and bad breath

A long slow struggle where neither side can win or make much progress

trench knife
  • Archaic
1 9.0

A knife with two sharp edges made for close fighting in trenches

A deep part of the Pacific Ocean floor between New Guinea and the Solomon Islands

8.2

A narrow trench that lets soldiers move safely from the back to the front lines

approach trench
  • Specialized
8.9

A narrow trench that lets soldiers move from rear to front safely

A long, very deep valley in the Pacific Ocean floor off the coast of Chile

fire trench
  • Specialized
8.9

A long narrow trench that soldiers use to shelter while shooting at the enemy

A very deep part of the Pacific Ocean northeast of Japan about 9,000 meters deep

A very deep part of the Atlantic Ocean north of Puerto Rico and Haiti

A very deep valley on the Pacific Ocean floor near Peru and Chile

trench fever
  • Specialized
8.1

A disease causing fever, headaches, and muscle pain spread by lice

trench mortar
  • Archaic
8.7

A short gun that fires shells high into the air over short distances in trench fighting

slit trench
  • Specialized
8.6

A narrow ditch in the ground soldiers use for shelter from enemy fire

How Fortified

to fortify
39 6.2
to trench
7.7
to barricade
42 4.8
to mark out
4 4.0

Surface Forms

trench infinitive
trenched past
trenched past participle
trenching present participle
trenches third person singular

Etymology

Trench comes from the old French trancher meaning 'to cut', and soldiers long ago 'cut' into the earth to make a protective ditch around their camp. That's why trench can mean digging a defensive line to protect a place.