trentʃ n. & v. --n. 1 a long
narrow usu.
deep depression or
ditch. 2
Mil. a
this dug by troops to
stand in
and be sheltered
from enemy fire. b (in pl.) a
defensive system of
these. 3 a long narrow deep depression in
the ocean bed. --v. 1 tr.
dig a trench or trenches in (the ground). 2 tr.
turn over the
earth of (a
field,
garden, etc.) by digging a
succession of adjoining ditches. 3 intr. (foll. by
on, upon)
archaic a
encroach. b verge or
border closely. øtrench
coat 1 a soldier's lined or padded
waterproof coat. 2 a
loose belted
raincoat. trench
fever a
highly infectious disease transmitted by
lice,
that infested soldiers in the trenches in the
war of 1914-18. trench
mortar a
light simple mortar throwing a
bomb from one's
own into the enemy trenches. trench
warfare hostilities carried on from
more or
less permanent trenches. [ME f. OF trenche (n.) trenchier (v.), ult. f. L truncare TRUNCATE]