ENTRENCH

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does entrench mean? 

• ENTRENCH (verb)
  The verb ENTRENCH has 3 senses:

1. fix firmly or securely

2. impinge or infringe upon

3. occupy a trench or secured area

  Familiarity information: ENTRENCH used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• ENTRENCH (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they entrench    ... he / she / it entrenches   
Past simple: entrenched   
Past participle: entrenched   
-ing form: entrenching   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Fix firmly or securely

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

entrench; intrench

Hypernyms (to "entrench" is one way to...):

fasten; fix; secure (cause to be firmly attached)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 2

Meaning:

Impinge or infringe upon

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

encroach; entrench; impinge; trench

Context example:

This matter entrenches on other domains

Hypernyms (to "entrench" is one way to...):

take advantage; trespass (make excessive use of)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Sense 3

Meaning:

Occupy a trench or secured area

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

dig in; entrench

Context example:

The troops dug in for the night

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

entrenchment (an entrenched fortification; a position protected by trenches)

 Context examples 

Hubble's observations also show that the gas is so entrenched in the gravitational well the light is struggling to climb out, and therefore appears stretched to redder wavelengths.

(Hubble Uncovers Black Hole Disk that Shouldn't Exist, NASA)

They say no when they mean yes, and drive a man out of his wits just for the fun of it, returned Laurie, entrenching himself behind an undeniable fact.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Despite the entrenched belief that eggs raise cholesterol, some studies have suggested that dietary cholesterol intake doesn’t necessarily translate to higher blood cholesterol.

(Eggs No Longer Part of a Healthy Diet?, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

And Clerval—could aught ill entrench on the noble spirit of Clerval?

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

The invention, called a liquid-entrenched smooth surface (LESS) coating, involves two separate treatments, both presented as suitable for spraying onto ceramics amongst other materials.

(Materials scientists invent new coating for self-cleaning, water-efficient toilets, Wikinews)