re·trench 1 (r?-tr?nch?)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 (r?-tr?nch?)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 (r??tr?nt?) vb1. (Banking & Finance) to reduce or curtail (costs); economize2. (tr) to shorten, delete, or abridge3. (Fortifications) (tr) to protect by a retrenchment[C17: from Old French retrenchier, from re- + trenchier to cut, from Latin trunc?re to lop; see trench] re?trenchable adjCollins English Dictionary ? Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014re?trench (r??tr?nt?) 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;