---
title: trench — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «trench» in the school dictionary: A trench is a long, narrow, deep ditch dug in the ground, for pipes, drains or building foundations. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# trench

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** trench, trenches, long ditches, ocean trench, trench coat, Workers · **What happens:** be, dig, live, protect, lay, write · **To what, where:** long narrow deep ditch, ground, long ditches, soldiers, deep long valley, sea floor · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«trench» in the school dictionary: its 4 meanings for a pupil and its 7 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [trench in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/trench.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A trench is a long, narrow, deep ditch dug in the ground, for pipes, drains or building foundations.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:trench:m1:1
# text = A trench is a long, narrow, deep ditch dug in the ground, for pipes, drains or building foundations.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	trench	trench	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
5	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
7	narrow	narrow	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
9	deep	deep	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	ditch	ditch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
11	dug	dig	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	10	acl	_	_
12	in	in	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	ground	ground	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
16	for	for	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
17	pipes	pipe	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
19	drains	drain	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	17	conj	_	_
20	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	22	cc	_	_
21	building	building	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	compound	_	_
22	foundations	foundation	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	19	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a trench | a long narrow deep ditch |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **dig** | participle |  | a long narrow deep ditch *not said here* |  | the ground |  | for pipes and drains or building foundations | vn hunt-35.1 «NP V PP.theme PP.location»: agent=Agent in ground=Location for pipe=Theme |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In war, trenches are long ditches that soldiers dig and live in to protect themselves from enemy fire, especially in the First World War.

<!-- fold The tree, 24 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:trench:m2:1
# text = In war, trenches are long ditches that soldiers dig and live in to protect themselves from enemy fire, especially in the First World War.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	war	war	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	trenches	trench	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
5	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	ditches	ditch	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	conj	_	_
8	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	10	nsubj	_	_
9	soldiers	soldier	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nsubj	_	_
10	dig	dig	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	acl:relcl	_	_
11	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	live	live	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	conj	_	_
13	in	in	SCONJ	IN	_	15	mark	_	_
14	to	to	PART	TO	_	15	mark	_	_
15	protect	protect	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	advcl	_	_
16	themselves	themselves	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	15	obj	_	_
17	from	from	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
18	enemy	enemy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	amod	_	_
19	fire	fire	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	26	punct	_	_
21	especially	especially	ADV	RB	_	26	advmod	_	_
22	in	in	ADP	IN	_	26	case	_	_
23	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	26	det	_	_
24	First	first	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	26	amod	_	_
25	World	World	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	26	compound	_	_
26	War	War	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	15	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | trenches | long ditches |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **dig** | present | long ditches |  |  |  |  |  | vn create-26.4-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **live** | present | long ditches *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn exist-47.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **protect** | to-infinitive | long ditches *not said here* | soldiers *= soldier* |  |  |  | in the First World War; from enemy fire | vn defend-72.3 «NP V NP PP.theme»: agent=Agent themselves=Beneficiary from fire=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An ocean trench is a very deep, long valley in the sea floor, like the Mariana Trench, the deepest place on Earth.

<!-- fold The tree, 22 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:trench:m3:1
# text = An ocean trench is a very deep, long valley in the sea floor, like the Mariana Trench, the deepest place on Earth.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	ocean	ocean	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	trench	trench	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
6	very	very	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	deep	deep	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
9	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	valley	valley	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
11	in	in	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
13	sea	sea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	compound	_	_
14	floor	floor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
16	like	like	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
17	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
18	Mariana	Mariana	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	19	compound	_	_
19	Trench	Trench	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	23	punct	_	_
21	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	23	det	_	_
22	deepest	deep	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	23	amod	_	_
23	place	place	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	appos	_	_
24	on	on	ADP	IN	_	25	case	_	_
25	Earth	Earth	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	23	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a ocean trench | a deep long valley and the Mariana Trench |  | the sea floor |  |  | tree rules |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A trench coat is a long, belted raincoat.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:trench:m4:1
# text = A trench coat is a long, belted raincoat.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	trench	trench	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	coat	coat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
6	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
8	belted	belted	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	raincoat	raincoat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a trench coat | a long belted raincoat |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Workers dug a trench to lay the new water pipe.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:trench:x1:1
# text = Workers dug a trench to lay the new water pipe.
1	Workers	worker	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	dug	dig	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	trench	trench	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	lay	lay	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
8	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
9	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	pipe	pipe	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **dig** | past | Workers | a trench |  |  |  |  | vn poke-19-1-1-1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent trench=Theme |
| 2 | **lay** | to-infinitive | Workers *not said here* | the new water pipe |  |  |  |  | vn create-26.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent pipe=Result |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Soldiers in the trenches wrote letters home.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:trench:x2:1
# text = Soldiers in the trenches wrote letters home.
1	Soldiers	soldier	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
2	in	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	trenches	trench	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	nmod	_	_
5	wrote	write	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	letters	letter	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	_
7	home	home	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **write** | past | Soldiers in the trenches | letters |  |  |  | home *property* | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent letter=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The trenches were full of mud and rats.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:trench:x3:1
# text = The trenches were full of mud and rats.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	trenches	trench	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	full	full	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	mud	mud	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	rats	rat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the trenches |  |  |  |  | of mud and rats; full *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Mariana Trench is the deepest place in the ocean.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:trench:x4:1
# text = The Mariana Trench is the deepest place in the ocean.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	Mariana	Mariana	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	Trench	Trench	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	deepest	deep	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	7	amod	_	_
7	place	place	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	ocean	ocean	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the Mariana Trench | the deepest place |  | the ocean |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Trench foot was caused by standing in cold water for days.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:trench:x5:1
# text = Trench foot was caused by standing in cold water for days.
1	Trench	trench	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	foot	foot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	caused	cause	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
6	standing	stand	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	advcl	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	cold	cold	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
10	for	for	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	days	day	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cause** | past · passive |  | Trench foot |  |  |  |  | vn engender-27.1-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |
| 2 | **stand** | gerund |  |  |  | cold water | day |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent in water=Location |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Detectives in old films wear trench coats.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:trench:x6:1
# text = Detectives in old films wear trench coats.
1	Detectives	detective	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
2	in	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	films	film	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	nmod	_	_
5	wear	wear	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	trench	trench	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	coats	coat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wear** | present | Detectives in old films | trench coats |  |  |  |  | vn wipe\_manner-10.4.1-1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent coat=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Between the trenches was a deadly strip called no man's land.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:trench:x7:1
# text = Between the trenches was a deadly strip called no man's land.
1	Between	between	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	trenches	trench	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	deadly	deadly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	strip	strip	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	acl	_	_
9	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	10	det	_	_
10	man	man	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	's	's	PART	POS	_	10	case	_	_
12	land	land	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past |  | a deadly strip |  |  |  | between the trenches | tree rules |
| 2 | **call** | participle | a deadly strip *not said here* | no man's land |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent land=Recipient |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

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