Part of Speech

Noun, Verb

Pronunciation

/dɪtʃ/

Definitions

• (Noun) A narrow channel dug into the ground, typically used for drainage or irrigation.
• (Verb) To abandon or discard someone or something.
• (Verb) To land an aircraft in an emergency, typically on water.

Usage Examples

• The rainwater flows into the ditch along the road.
• He decided to ditch his old car for a newer model.
• The pilot was forced to ditch the plane into the ocean.

Etymology

From Old English dic meaning "dike" or "trench," related to Middle Dutch dijk and German Teich.

Synonyms

• Trench
• Canal
• Abandon
• Forsake
• Discard

Antonyms

• Retain
• Preserve
• Maintain

Translations

Regional Pronunciation Variations

• British English: /dɪtʃ/
• American English: /dɪtʃ/
• Australian English: /dɪtʃ/

Historical Usage

The word has been used since the early Middle Ages to refer to man-made trenches for defense or drainage.

Cultural Nuances

In modern slang, "ditch" is often used to mean abandoning someone or something suddenly and without explanation.

More Information

The term "ditch" has evolved from its original meaning of a physical trench to encompass metaphorical abandonment, especially in informal speech.