TRAMPLE

[verb] - to step heavily on (something or someone) causing damage or injurySomebody trampled all over my flowerbeds in the night! [usually + preposition]A herd of stampeding cattle had trampled (down) the crops. [T or M]Eight people were trampled to death (= killed) when the stadium collapsed and the crowd rushed out onto the football pitch. [T]Several people were trampled underfoot and seriously injured in the rush to get out of the building. [T](figurative) The government she described as 'a bunch of careless vandals, trampling on (= acting without any respect for) the needs and rights of the ordinary citizen.' [usually + preposition]