tram·ple (trăm'pəl)

v., -pled, -pling, -ples.

v.tr.

1. To beat down with the feet so as to crush, bruise, or destroy; tramp on.
2. To treat harshly or ruthlessly: would trample anyone who got in their way.

v.intr.

1. To tread heavily or destructively: trampling on the flowers.
2. To inflict injury as if by treading heavily: "trampling on the feelings of those about you" (Thornton Wilder).

n.
The action or sound of trampling.

[Middle English tramplen, frequentative of trampen, to tramp. See tramp.]

trampler tram'pler n.

---

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

---