to trench
- verb
- /trɛnʧ/
- The workers began to trench a deep channel for the new drainage system.
Examples
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They emerged at the beginning of a wider tunnel, this one trenched down its middle so that there were stone walkways to either side of where the sewer water flowed.
Fiction book (1991) -
So trenching is common ion bombardment damage.
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And that we base on trenching, we base on base it on very fine measurements of the crust moving.
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They used a special tool to trench the wood, creating intricate designs.
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The river is trenching the landscape, carving out a path through the valley.
Synonyms
To make a long narrow cut in something
To move through something by digging a hole or tunnel
To dig a passage under something
To cut a narrow groove into a wall or other surface
Cut a groove in wood or stone with a tool
To cut into a surface with a sharp tool
To make a deep cut or groove in a surface by scraping
To cut something deeply, often by accident
To loosen and move soil with a tool like a spade
To make a long narrow hole in the ground for pipes or to carry water away
To dig a long, narrow trench to carry water away
To make a long narrow cut or channel in a surface
To make a long narrow cut in the ground
To make a long narrow groove in the ground
To cut downward into the land by a river or stream to make a deeper channel
Phrasal Verbs
Compounds
A long waterproof coat with a belt and deep pockets, often worn in a military style
- Specialized
A way of fighting where soldiers attack, defend, and live in long trenches facing each other
- Specialized
A foot problem from long cold, wet exposure that causes pain, swelling, and numbness
- Specialized
A very painful gum infection that causes mouth sores, bleeding and bad breath
A deep part of the Pacific Ocean floor between New Guinea and the Solomon Islands
- Archaic
A narrow trench that lets soldiers move safely from the back to the front lines
- Specialized
A long narrow trench that soldiers use to shelter while shooting at the enemy
- Archaic
A short gun that fires shells high into the air over short distances in trench fighting
How Deep
Surface Forms
Etymology
Trench comes from the French verb trancher 'to cut', so to trench a surface is like cutting deep lines into stone or wax. That's why the verb can mean to carve or cut deeply.