ditch: Meaning and Definition of

ditch

Pronunciation: (dich), [key]
— n.
  1. a long, narrow excavation made in the ground by digging, as for draining or irrigating land; trench.
  2. any open passage or trench, as a natural channel or waterway.
—v.t.
  1. to dig a ditch or ditches in or around.
  2. to derail (a train) or drive or force (an automobile, bus, etc.) into a ditch.
  3. to crash-land on water and abandon (an airplane).
  4. I ditched that old hat of yours.
    1. to get rid of:I ditched that old hat of yours.
    2. to escape from:He ditched the cops by driving down an alley.
    3. to absent oneself from (school or a class) without permission or an acceptable reason.
—v.i.
  1. to dig a ditch.
  2. (of an aircraft or its crew) to crash-land in water and abandon the sinking aircraft.
  3. to be truant; play hooky.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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