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.

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oceanic trench British  

noun

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

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Etymology

Origin of oceanic trench

First recorded in 1945–50

Example Sentences

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