trenchtrench /trentʃ/ ●○○ noun [countable] 
Workers dug a trench for gas lines.2technical a long narrow valley in the ground beneath the sea3[usually plural] a deep trench dug in the ground as a protection for soldiers: the trenches of World War I4the trenches the place or situation where most of the work or action in an activity takes place: Lane left teaching after 30 years in the trenches.
WORD ORIGINtrench
Origin:
1300-1400 Old French trenche ‘act of cutting’, from trenchier ‘to cut’, probably from Latin truncare; ➔ TRUNCATEEXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- the fighting men in the trenches of France
- the Puerto Rico Trench
- Workers dug a trench for gas lines.
- But we in the trenches just never see the end product.
- Downbuckling is marked by an offshore trench.
- Parapets gradually grew lower and lower until the trench became little deeper than a roadside ditch.
- The mosquitoes don't seem to like the rain either, they all seem to be at the back of the trench.
- There had been such a wide expanse of firm ground that a trench had never been worn.
- Those same nice folks get awful upset when somebody goes out and jumps into the trenches and tries to make it work.
WORD SETS
adjutant, nounarmoured, adjectivebarracks, nounbasic training, nounbatman, nounbattalion, nounbearskin, nounbillet, nounbillet, verbbombardier, nounbooty, nounbrigade, nounbrigadier, nounbrigadier-general, nouncadet, nouncanteen, nouncantonment, nouncapture, verbcavalry, nouncavalryman, nouncenturion, nouncharger, nounchevron, nounCol., colonel, nouncommand, nouncommando, nouncommissary, nouncompany, nouncontingent, nouncorps, noundesert, verbdeserter, noundesertion, noundetachment, noundetail, noundisengage, verbdishonourable discharge, noundivision, noundivisional, adjectivedog tag, noundraft, verbdragoon, noundrill, noundrill, verbdugout, nounencampment, nounexpeditionary force, nounfield marshal, nounfiring squad, nounfive star general, nounflank, nounfoot locker, nounforay, nounfour-star general, nounfusilier, noungarrison, noungarrison, verbGen., general, noungeneralship, nounGI, noungrenadier, nounground forces, noungrunt, nounguardsman, noungunner, nounhussar, nouninduct, verbinductee, nouninfantry, nouninfantryman, nounirregular, nounlance corporal, nounlegion, nounlegionary, nounlegionnaire, nounLieut, loot, nounLt., man-at-arms, nounmatériel, nounMC, nounmedic, nounmercenary, nounmess hall, nounMIA, nounM.O., nounmobilize, verbmotorized, adjectivemounted, adjectivemusketeer, nounmuster, nounnon-commissioned officer, nounobstacle course, nounparade, verbparade ground, nounparatrooper, nounparatroops, nounpennon, nounpicket, nounpicket, verbpip, nounplatoon, nounpoint man, nounposition, nounprivate, nounprivate soldier, nounPte, redcoat, nounregiment, nounregular, nounreservist, nounreveille, nounroute march, nounsapper, nounsarge, nounsignalman, nounsoldier, nounsoldiering, nounsoldierly, adjectivesoldier of fortune, nounsoldiery, nounsortie, nounsortie, verbspecial forces, nounsquad, nounsquaddy, nounstaff sergeant, nounstandard-bearer, nounstormtrooper, nounsubaltern, nounTerritorial Army, the, trench, nountroop, nountrooper, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY Workers dug a trench for gas lines.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES They dig a small hole in the sand to bury their eggs.
Workers dug a trench for gas lines. (=a long raincoat with a belt)· a military-style trench coat
They dig a small hole in the sand to bury their eggs. (=fighting from long holes dug into the ground)· There he experienced the full horrors of trench warfare.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE· Water belched out as he drenched each tree, pouring the costly stuff into the deep trench which circled their trunks.· Across the Volga, for example, engineers had to dig a 16-metre deep trench to accommodate the pipe.
NOUN· He had a black trench coat on and his right hand was deep inside the right pocket.· It was all preparation for her dream job: a foreign correspondent, roaming the world in a trench coat.· Immediately, they heard raised voices and saw that the porter was engaged in an altercation with two men in trench coats.· Check any narrow-minded seriousness at the door with your urban trench coat and get ready for an absolute annihilation of bourgeois civility.· He was wearing a trench coat, military style with wide lapels, the collar turned up, belted.· Purple Label sportswear is filled with chocolate-colored suede trench coats, gray pinstriped cashmere slacks, cashmere sweaters and cashmere overcoats.· He carried his trench coat over his arm.· No cocktail hat, no military decorations, no trench coat actually worn in the trenches.
· More years of trench warfare and carnage on the Western Front.were now almost unavoidable.· The little-noticed trench warfare over Senate confirmation of presidential appointees is nothing new.· Lastly, trench warfare is a policy Mr Yeltsin has pursued with some success for much of the past 12 months.· Yet to continue trench warfare as before would be a mistake.· The musical evokes the courage and humour of the troops amidst the horror of trench warfare.
VERB· They dig trenches which make it difficult for me to get out?· Everyone dug tunnels and trenches under fire, sometimes hitting hard soil and only advancing five or six yards a day.· Across the Volga, for example, engineers had to dig a 16-metre deep trench to accommodate the pipe.· The rows of atoms, as it were, dislike being dug out of their comfortable trenches of lowest energy.· Fabritsyn dug trenches, tended cattle, and carried rebel arms and explosives between bases.
· By digging a trench and doing nothing Kasparov could probably hold the draw, but that is not his style.· Planted blueberry bushes. Digging trench for cabin foundation.· And so on that soaking wet winter day we began digging our trench.· I was assigned to a crew digging trenches.
· Put in a V-shaped trench 6in apart above a layer of course sand. Fill trench with light soil and water well.· Purple Label sportswear is filled with chocolate-colored suede trench coats, gray pinstriped cashmere slacks, cashmere sweaters and cashmere overcoats.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY
1a long narrow hole dug into the surface of the ground: - But down in the trenches, the hegemon's slip is showing.
- But we in the trenches just never see the end product.
- He and I and Evander were in the trenches together when life seemed simpler.
- Of course, no one else except feminists and women returned to the trenches and put under siege noticed what was happening.
- Some men protested, saying it was Christmas, others refused point blank to return to the trenches.
- This was transmitted by fleas from the rats that flourished in the trenches to man.
- Those same nice folks get awful upset when somebody goes out and jumps into the trenches and tries to make it work.
- When the shelling and mortaring ceased, Taff and I got out of the trenches.
Workers dug a trench for gas lines.2technical a long narrow valley in the ground beneath the sea3[usually plural] a deep trench dug in the ground as a protection for soldiers: the trenches of World War I4the trenches the place or situation where most of the work or action in an activity takes place: Lane left teaching after 30 years in the trenches.