Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
ocean trench
Noun
/ˈoʊʃən trɛnʧ/
Definition
A long, narrow, steep-sided depression in the ocean floor.
Examples
- The Mariana Trench is the deepest ocean trench in the world.
- Some ocean trenches can reach depths of over 10,000 meters.
- Explorers have found unique forms of life in the extreme conditions of ocean trenches.
Meaning
Ocean trenches are the deepest parts of the ocean, formed by tectonic plate movements that create a subduction zone where one plate is forced under another.
Synonyms
- Marine trench
- Deep-sea trench
- Subduction trench
