ditch

[dich]

noun

1. a long, narrow excavation made in the ground by digging, as for draining or irrigating land; trench.

2. any open passage or trench, as a natural channel or waterway.

verb (used with object)

1. to dig a ditch or ditches in or around.

2. to derail (a train) or drive or force (an automobile, bus, etc.) into a ditch.

3. to crash-land on water and abandon (an airplane).

4. Slang.

   1. to get rid of.

      I ditched that old hat of yours.

   2. to escape from.

      He ditched the cops by driving down an alley.

   3. to absent oneself from (school or a class) without permission or an acceptable reason.

verb (used without object)

1. to dig a ditch.

2. (of an aircraft or its crew) to crash-land in water and abandon the sinking aircraft.

3. Slang.,  to be truant; play hooky.

ditch

¹

/ dɪtʃ /

noun

1. a narrow channel dug in the earth, usually used for drainage, irrigation, or as a boundary marker

2. any small, natural waterway

3. a bank made of earth excavated from and placed alongside a drain or stream

4. informal,  either of the gutters at the side of a tenpin bowling lane

5. a last resort or place of last defence

verb

1. to make a ditch or ditches in (a piece of ground)

2. (intr) to edge with a ditch

3. informal,  to crash or be crashed, esp deliberately, as to avoid more unpleasant circumstances

   he had to ditch the car

4. slang,  (tr) to abandon or discard

   to ditch a girlfriend

5. informal,  to land (an aircraft) on water in an emergency

6. slang,  (tr) to evade

   to ditch the police

Ditch

²

/ dɪtʃ /

noun

1. an informal name for the Tasman Sea

Other Word Forms

• ditchless adjective
• ditcher noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of ditch¹

before 900; 1940–45 ditch for def. 5, 1885–90 ditch for def. 6, 1955–60 ditch for def. 9; Middle English dich, Old English dīc; cognate with German Teich. See dike ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of ditch¹

Old English dīc; related to Old Saxon dīk, Old Norse dīki, Middle High German tīch dyke, pond, Latin fīgere to stick, see _dyke ¹

Idioms and Phrases

see last-ditch effort.

Example Sentences

Investigators found the remains in a ditch in Ernest E. Debs Regional Park on Oct.

From Los Angeles Times

In the most hopeful and optimistic scenario, some motorists who enjoyed the carpool perk might even ditch the freeway altogether and choose another method of transportation, such as the Los Angeles County Metro rail system.

From Los Angeles Times

Greengrass's focus on reality meant he also ditched his initial plan to use a virtual set around the bus to make the film.

From BBC

The first two specials are aptly named “Lower Classy” and “Middle Classy” — and to demonstrate that she’s really made it to “Upper Classy,” she ditches her casual jeans and t-shirt for a sparkly black jumpsuit.

From Los Angeles Times

Opposing Mr North's move to ditch her debate, Dr Hollowood urged members to "please vote against this suppression" and called on those who disagreed to argue their case.

From BBC

Related Words

• abandon 
• discard 
• dispose of 
• dump 
• forsake 
• jettison 
• junk 
• scrap