v.
Pronunciation: ri- ' trench
Function: verb
Etymology: obsolete French retrencher (now retrancher ), from Middle French retrenchier, from re- + trenchier to cut
Date: 1596
transitive verb
1 a : CUT DOWN , REDUCE b : to cut out : EXCISE
2 : to pare away : REMOVE
intransitive verb : to make retrenchments specifically : ECONOMIZE
synonyms see SHORTEN