Dictionary

entrench en · VERB

Pronunciation

• audio Queensland
• /ɪnˈtɹɪnt͡ʃ/ (US, pin-pen-merger)
• /ənˈtɹent͡ʃ/ (New-Zealand)
• /ɪnˈtɹent͡ʃ/ (Australia)
• /ɪnˈtɹɛnt͡ʃ/ (Canada, General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
• /ɛnˈtɹɛnt͡ʃ/ (Canada, General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
• (New-Jersey) audio

Etymology

From en- + trench. First attested in the 1550s.

Meanings

1. (ambitransitive, literally) To cut in; to furrow; to make trenches in or upon.
   • His face Deep scars of thunder had entrenched. 1667, John Milton, “Book I”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:
   • It was this very sword entrenched it. c. 1604–1605 (date written), William Shakespeare, “All’s Well, that Ends Well”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i]:
2. (ambitransitive, literally) To cut in; to furrow; to make trenches in or upon. ▸ To dig or excavate a trench; to trench.
3. (ambitransitive, literally) To cut in; to furrow; to make trenches in or upon. ▸ To surround or provide with a trench, especially for defense; to dig in.
   • To the south were the Varden and the men of Surda, entrenched behind multiple layers of defense, where they displayed a fine panoply of woven standards, ranks of proud tents, and the picketed horses of King Orrin's cavalry. 2005, Christopher Paolini, “The Burning Plains”, in Eldest, page 581:
   • The army entrenched its camp, or entrenched itself.
4. (ambitransitive, figuratively) To become completely absorbed in and fully accept one's beliefs, even in the face of evidence against it and refusing to be reasoned with.
5. (ambitransitive, figuratively) To establish a substantial position in business, politics, etc.
   • Given these entrenched ideological assumptions about the colonial order, it is no wonder that the state and those groups with an interest in the status quo viewed with suspicion and hostility any challenges to the fixed and "natural" boundaries between different sorts of people. 2009, Andrew B. Fisher, Matthew O'Hara, “Forward”, in Andrew B. Fisher, Matthew O'Hara, editors, Imperial Subjects: Race and Identity in Colonial Latin America, page 4:
   • For London to have its own exclusive immigration policy would exacerbate the sense that immigration benefits only certain groups and disadvantages the rest. It would entrench the gap between London and the rest of the nation. And it would widen the breach between the public and the elite that has helped fuel anti-immigrant hostility. 2013 September 28, Kenan Malik, “London Is Special, but Not That Special”, in New York Times, retrieved 28 Sep 2013:
   • Senator Cornpone was able to entrench by spending millions on each campaign.
6. (ambitransitive, figuratively) To invade; to encroach; to infringe or trespass; to enter on, and take possession of, that which belongs to another; usually followed by on or upon.

Forms

Deriveds

unentrenched · nonentrenched · entrencher · entrenchment

Synonyms

consolidate (establish a solid, firm financial position) · dig in (surround with a trench) · trench (dig)

Translations (41)

cs usadit se (establish financial position) · it cementare (establish financial position) · it consolidare (establish financial position) · nl zich vestigen (establish financial position) · de Fuß fassen (establish financial position) · de verschanzen (surround with a trench) · nl ingraven (surround with a trench) · de mit einen Graben umgeben (surround with a trench) · no forskanse (surround with a trench) · it rinforzare (establish financial position) · de graben (dig) · it trincerare (surround with a trench) · hy խրամապատել (surround with a trench) · nl graven (dig) · ru окапывать (surround with a trench) · es atrincherar (establish financial position) · pt entrincheirar (surround with a trench) · cs zakotvit (establish financial position) · sk obkopať (surround with a trench) · de etablieren (establish financial position) · la circumfossō (surround with a trench) · la infossō (surround with a trench) · sv befästa (establish financial position) · fr retrancher (surround with a trench) · no befeste (establish financial position) · it scavare (dig) · cmn 巩固 (establish financial position) · no styrke (establish financial position) · it potenziare (establish financial position) · ru окапываться (surround with a trench) · it sterrare (dig) · cs usadit (establish financial position) · de ausheben (dig) · es atrincherar (surround with a trench) · de eingraben (surround with a trench) · it rafforzare (establish financial position) · cs zakořenit (establish financial position) · cs obehnat zákopem (surround with a trench) · cmn 挖掘壕沟 (surround with a trench) · de festigen (establish financial position) · it fortificare (surround with a trench)