I. ˈtrampəl, -raam-, -raim- verb
( trampled ; trampled ; trampling -p(ə)liŋ ; tramples )
Etymology: Middle English tramplen, freq. of trampen to tramp — more at tramp
intransitive verb
: tramp
the little boys lay down in the dust, heedless of the feet trampling everywhere about them — Pearl Buck
trampling up and down the front porch, nervous as a cat — R.P.Warren
if in addition to the year's four seasons the fifth of famine tramples through the land — Frederic Morton
as
a. : to tread heavily so as to bruise, crush, or injure — usually used with on, upon, or over
a runaway horse had trampled on him and broken his hipbone — Vicki Baum
the boy who has a garden will not trample on other people's flower beds — Bertrand Russell
b. : to inflict injury or destruction : have a contemptuous or ruthless attitude : tyrannize — usually used with on, over, or upon
he liked to trample on his foes — M.R.Cohen
pride and sensitiveness were his chief foes, and he would trample on them — George Meredith
his grim, repressive mother, who trampled on every innocent pleasure — Van Wyck Brooks
trampled on conventions — Henry Adams
if the great powers show themselves irresponsibly ready to trample over any weak nation that seemed to be in their way — Vera M. Dean
transitive verb
1. : to press down in walking : crush or injure by or as if by treading : stamp
man was standing on a large push truck and trampling down a great pile of old newspapers and other trash — Thomas Whiteside
shoes trample his camera underfoot — Ray Duncan
used to trample the lumps of hard clay into powder — American Guide Series: Tennessee
will rediscover the morality their oppressors trampled into the dust — Times Literary Supplement
the utility combine is pressuring Congress to trample down the law and the will of the people — New York Times
2. : to extinguish by stamping with the feet — usually used with out
a forbidden book is like a fire one tries to trample out — Encore
II. noun
( -s )
: the act or sound of trampling : a heavy and repeated tread of or as if of many feet