entrench
/ɪnˈtrentʃ/ (bre, ipa) · /ɪnˈtrentʃ/ (ame, ipa) · /in-ˈtrench en-/ (ame, mw)
entrench — verb
- entrenchpresent simple I / you / we / they
- entrencheshe / she / it
- entrenchedpast simple
- entrenching-ing form
1. to make a belief, system, or problem settle so deeply into a place or society th
to make a belief, system, or problem settle so deeply into a place or society that changing it becomes very hard.
Years of state control entrenched the idea that women should stay home.
entrench the idea that + clause
Cheap loans helped entrench online shopping in small towns across Chile.
entrench something in + place
Once the rule was entrenched, even young judges hesitated to challenge it.
At school, daily teasing entrenched Hana's fear of speaking in class.
- cement
stresses making an idea or advantage feel firmly fixed
- embed
more neutral and often used for putting something into a system
- institutionalize
used when a practice becomes part of rules or organizations
文法句型
entrench something in/into something
be entrenched in something
entrench the idea that + clause
用法筆記
Often used for beliefs, power structures, habits, and social problems rather than physical objects. The passive form is common when the focus is on how difficult something has become to change.
2. to protect a place or force by digging trenches around it, or to move into a tre
to protect a place or force by digging trenches around it, or to move into a trench so you can defend yourself there.
Soldiers entrenched the camp with fresh trenches before dawn.
entrench a camp with trenches
By sunset, Minho's unit had entrenched itself on the ridge above the bridge.
entrench oneself on + position
The defenders stayed entrenched behind sandbags while the shelling continued overnight.
After two hours of digging, the exhausted troops entrenched along the road.
文法句型
entrench a camp or position
entrench yourself on/behind something
stay entrenched behind something
用法筆記
Mostly found in military or historical writing. Unlike sense 1, this sense refers to real trenches and defensive positions rather than abstract ideas becoming hard to change.
3. to push into an area, right, or role that should remain someone else's, especial
to push into an area, right, or role that should remain someone else's, especially without proper permission.
Residents said the new wall would entrench upon the path to the river.
entrench upon + place
The order could not entrench on rights that workers already had.
entrench on + rights
The hotel plan began to entrench upon land used for the village market.
No office should entrench on powers that belong to town councils.
文法句型
entrench on/upon + land
entrench on/upon + rights
entrench on/upon + powers
用法筆記
Usually appears with on or upon before words like rights, land, or powers. Distinguish from sense 1: this sense is about stepping into someone else's space or authority, not becoming deeply fixed.