oceanic trench

American  

[oh-shee-an-ik trench] / ˌoʊ ʃiˈæn ɪk ˈtrɛntʃ /

noun

1. a depression of significant depth in the ocean floor, usually about 2.0–2.5 miles (3–4 kilometers) deeper than the surface of the surrounding seafloor and about 30–60 miles (50–100 kilometers) wide, with a length that may span thousands of miles or kilometers: an integral element of plate tectonics.

---

oceanic trench British  

noun

1. a long narrow steep-sided depression in the earth's oceanic crust, usually lying above a subduction zone

---

Etymology

Origin of oceanic trench

First recorded in 1945–50

---

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

oceanic trench

Microplastics have been found in even the most remote corners of the Earth, such as the Mariana Trench, the deepest oceanic trench on the planet.

From Slate ● Apr. 27, 2024

All subduction zones have a forearc basin, a feature of the overriding plate found between the volcanic arc and oceanic trench.

From Textbooks ● Jan. 1, 2017

It's the not knowing what is under the surface, what monsters lurk in this largely unseen world, that keeps the angler fascinated, whether it is a puddle in Bedfordshire or a whole oceanic trench.

From The Guardian ● Jul. 22, 2013

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---