Ditch: meaning, definitions and examples

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ditch

 

[ dɪtʃ ]

Noun / Verb
Context #1 | Noun

in agriculture

A long narrow trench or furrow dug in the ground, typically used for drainage or irrigation.

Synonyms

channel, trench

Examples of usage

  • Farmers dug ditches to drain excess water from their fields.
  • The irrigation system was connected to a network of ditches.
Context #2 | Noun

informal

A hole or depression, especially in a road.

Synonyms

hole, pit

Examples of usage

  • Watch out for that ditch in the road.
  • The car swerved to avoid hitting a deep ditch.
Context #3 | Verb

informal

To get rid of or give up something or someone.

Synonyms

abandon, discard

Examples of usage

  • He ditched his old car and bought a new one.
  • She ditched her toxic friend and felt much better.

Translations

Translations of the word "ditch" in other languages:

🇵🇹 vala

🇮🇳 खाई

🇩🇪 Graben

🇮🇩 parit

🇺🇦 рів

🇵🇱 rów

🇯🇵 溝 (みぞ)

🇫🇷 fossé

🇪🇸 zanja

🇹🇷 hendek

🇰🇷 도랑

🇸🇦 خندق

🇨🇿 příkop

🇸🇰 priekopa

🇨🇳 沟 (gōu)

🇸🇮 jarek

🇮🇸 skurður

🇰🇿 ор

🇬🇪 ხევი

🇦🇿 xəndək

🇲🇽 zanja

Etymology

The word 'ditch' has Old English origins, coming from the word 'dic', which meant a trench or ditch. Originally used to refer to a trench dug as a fortification or boundary, over time the word expanded to include drainage ditches and later informal usage to describe a hole or depression. The verb form of 'ditch' emerged in the 19th century, with the informal meaning of getting rid of something or someone. Today, 'ditch' is commonly used in both literal and figurative contexts.

Word Frequency Rank

At #7,177 in frequency, this word belongs to advanced vocabulary. It's less common than core vocabulary but important for sophisticated expression.