retrench
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re·trench 1
(rĭ-trĕnch′)v. re·trenched, re·trench·ing, re·trench·es
v.tr.
1. To reduce (expenses, for example); cut down.
2. Archaic To remove, delete, or omit.
v.intr.
To curtail expenses; economize.
[Middle French retrencher, to remove, suppress, from Old French retrenchier : re-, re- + trenchier, to cut; see trench.]
re·trench′er n.
re·trench 2
(rĭ-trĕnch′)intr.v. re·trenched, re·trench·ing, re·trench·es
To reorganize in such a way as to consolidate one's strength in preparation for future efforts: "The ranching industry had retrenched and was well on its way to becoming the powerful lobby that it is today" (Deanne Stillman).
[re- + trench, on the model of Middle French se retrancher, to retire or take a secure position behind entrenchments, reflexive of retrancher, to fortify (a position) with trenches : re-, re- + tranchée, trench (from Old French trenchiee, tranchee, from feminine of trenchie, past participle of trenchier, to cut; see trench).]
re·trench′er n.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
retrench
(rɪˈtrɛntʃ)vb
1. (Banking & Finance) to reduce or curtail (costs); economize
2. (tr) to shorten, delete, or abridge
3. (Fortifications) (tr) to protect by a retrenchment
[C17: from Old French retrenchier, from re- + trenchier to cut, from Latin truncāre to lop; see trench]
reˈtrenchable adj
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
re•trench
(rɪˈtrɛntʃ)v.t.
1. to cut down, reduce, or diminish; curtail (expenses).
2. to cut off or remove.
v.i. 3. to economize; reduce expenses.
[1600–10; < French retrencher (variant, now obsolete, of retrancher), Middle French retrenchier=re- re- + trenchier to cut; see trench]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
retrench
Past participle: retrenched
Gerund: retrenching
Imperative |
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retrench |
retrench |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
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Verb | 1. | retrench - tighten one's belt; use resources carefully |
2. | retrench - make a reduction, as in one's workforce; "The company had to retrench" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
retrench
verb
1. economize, save, cut back, make savings, scrimp and save, be frugal, make economies, make cutbacks, tighten your belt, husband Cuts in spending forced them to retrench.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
Translations
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
retrench
vi → sich einschränken
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995