retrench

• POS: Verb (usu participle), Verb (transitive)
• HYPHEN: re=trench

CIDE DICTIONARY

retrench, v. t. [OF. retrenchier, F. retrancher; pref. re- re- + OF. trenchier, F. trancher, to cut. See Trench.].

•  To cut off; to pare away.  [1913 Webster]

  "Thy exuberant parts retrench."  [1913 Webster]
•  To lessen; to abridge; to curtail; as, to retrench superfluities or expenses.  [1913 Webster]

  "But this thy glory shall be soon retrenched."  [1913 Webster]
•  To confine; to limit; to restrict.  Addison.  [1913 Webster]

  "These figures, ought they then to receive a retrenched interpretation?"  [1913 Webster]
•  To furnish with a retrenchment; as, to retrench bastions.  [1913 Webster]

Syn. -- To lesen; diminish; curtail; abridge.

retrench, v. i. 

 To cause or suffer retrenchment; specifically, to cut down living expenses; as, it is more reputable to retrench than to live embarrassed.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

retrench, v.
1 a tr. reduce the amount of (costs). b intr. cut down expenses; introduce economies.
2 tr. shorten or abridge.

Derivative

retrenchment n.

Etymology

obs. F retrencher (as RE-, TRENCH)

THESAURUS

retrench

abate, abbreviate, abrade, abridge, abstract, arrest, bate, bob, boil down, bridle, capsulize, check, clip, compress, condense, constrain, contain, contract, control, cool, cool off, crop, curb, curtail, curtail expenses, cut, cut back, cut corners, cut down, cut off short, cut short, damp, dampen, decelerate, decrease, deduct, deflate, depreciate, depress, derogate, detract, diminish, disparage, dock, dompt, downgrade, drain, eat away, elide, enjoin, epitomize, erode, extract, file away, foreshorten, govern, guard, hinder, hold, hold at bay, hold back, hold fast, hold in, hold in check, hold in leash, hold up, impair, inhibit, keep, keep back, keep from, keep in, keep in check, keep under control, lay under restraint, leach, lessen, lower, mow, nip, pare, pare down expenses, poll, pollard, prohibit, prune, pull, pull in, purify, reap, recap, recapitulate, reduce, refine, rein, rein in, remove, restrain, retard, roll back, rub away, scale down, set back, shave, shear, shorten, simplify, slash, slow down, snub, step down, straiten, stunt, subduct, subtract, sum up, summarize, synopsize, take a reef, take away, take from, take in, telescope, thin, thin out, trim, truncate, tune down, wear away, weed, withdraw, withhold

ROGET THESAURUS

retrench

Subtraction

VB subduct, subtract, deduct, deduce, bate, retrench, remove, withdraw, take from, take away, detract, garble, mutilate, amputate, detruncate, cut off, cut away, cut out, abscind, excise, pare, thin, prune, decimate, abrade, scrape, file, geld, castrate, eliminate, diminish, curtail, deprive of, weaken.

Taking

VB take, catch, hook, nab, bag, sack, pocket, put into one's pocket, receive, accept, reap, crop, cull, pluck, gather, draw, appropriate, expropriate, impropriate, assume, possess oneself of, take possession of, commandeer, lay one's hands on, clap one's hands on, help oneself to, make free with, dip one's hands into, lay under contribution, intercept, scramble for, deprive of, take away, carry away, bear away, take off, carry off, bear off, adeem, abstract, hurry off with, run away with, abduct, steal, ravish, seize, pounce upon, spring upon, swoop to, swoop down upon, take by storm, take by assault, snatch, reave, snap up, nip up, whip up, catch up, kidnap, crimp, capture, lay violent hands on, get hold of, lay hold of, take hold of, catch hold of, lay fast hold of, take firm hold of, lay by the heels, take prisoner, fasten upon, grip, grapple, embrace, gripe, clasp, grab, clutch, collar, throttle, take by the throat, claw, clinch, clench, make sure of, catch at, jump at, make a grab at, snap at, snatch at, reach, make a long arm, stretch forth one's hand, take from, take away from, disseize, deduct, retrench, dispossess, ease one of, snatch from one's grasp, tear from, tear away from, wrench from, wrest from, wring from, extort, deprive of, bereave, disinherit, cut off with a shilling, oust, divest, levy, distrain, confiscate, sequester, sequestrate, accroach, usurp, despoil, strip, fleece, shear, displume, impoverish, eat out of house and home, drain, drain to the dregs, gut, dry, exhaust, swallow up, absorb, draw off, suck the blood of, suck like a leech, retake, resume, recover.

Economy

VB be economical, practice economy, economize, save, retrench, cut back expenses, cut expenses, cut one's coat according to one's cloth, make both ends meet, keep within compass, meet one's expenses, pay one's way, pay as you go, husband, save money, invest money, put out to interest, provide for a rainy day, save for a rainy day, provide against a rainy day, save against a rainy day, feather one's nest, look after the main chance, cut costs.

Shortness

VB be short, render short, shorten, curtail, abridge, abbreviate, take in, reduce, compress, epitomize, retrench, cut short, obtruncate, scrimp, cut, chop up, hack, hew, cut down, pare down, clip, dock, lop, prune, shear, shave, mow, reap, crop, snub, truncate, pollard, stunt, nip, check the growth of, foreshorten (in drawing).