trench

/trɛntʃ/
noun
  1. A long, narrow ditch dug in the ground, typically for drainage, as a barrier, or for military defense.
    • We dug a trench around the garden to keep water from flooding the plants.
    • The archaeologists uncovered an ancient trench that was once part of a fortification.
    • The soldiers dug a deep trench to protect themselves from enemy fire.
  2. A deep, narrow channel in the ocean floor.
    • The research vessel mapped a new trench in the Pacific Ocean.
    • The Mariana Trench is the deepest part of the world's oceans.
    • Submarines sometimes explore ocean trenches to study marine life.
Antonyms
verb
  1. To dig a long, narrow ditch in the ground.
    • We need to trench the backyard before the rain starts.
    • They trenched along the foundation to lay pipes for the drainage.
    • The workers trenched the field to install a new irrigation system.
  2. To cut or carve a groove or channel into something.
    • The sculptor trenched a line into the stone to create a pattern.
    • The machine trenched a path through the ice for the cable.
    • He trenched the wood with a chisel to fit the joint.