Meaning & use

trench

noun·Academic

A long, narrow ditch dug into the ground, often for drainage, planting, or military defense.

See it in a sentence

Soldiers huddled in the muddy trench as shells exploded in the distance.

Workers dug a trench along the street to lay new water pipes.

A note on using this word

Trench is closely associated with World War I trench warfare, where opposing armies fought from long defensive ditches.

Words with a similar meaning

ditchchannel

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