trenches

English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈtɹɛnt͡ʃɪz/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɛntʃɪz
• Hyphenation: trench‧es

Noun

trenches

1. plural of trench

Noun

trenches pl (plural only)

1. The front line of any field of endeavor, as the line of scrimmage in American football, patrol duty for a policeman.
   • 2012, BioWare, Mass Effect 3 (Science Fiction), Redwood City: Electronic Arts, →OCLC, PC, scene: Prologue:

     Anderson: We've all reviewed your reports, seen the data you collected, but it's all just theory to us.
     Anderson: You've been there. In the trenches. Fighting them. You know what they're capable of.

2. (figurative) A difficult or disadvantageous situation; a low point.

See also

• in the thick of it

Verb

trenches

1. third-person singular simple present indicative of trench

Middle English

Noun

trenches

1. plural of trenche