The depth of something such as a river or hole is the distance downwards from its top surface, or between its upper and lower surfaces.
The smaller lake ranges from five to fourteen feet in depth.
The depth of the shaft is 520 yards.
Pour the vegetable oil into a frying pan to a depth of about 1cm.
They were detected at depths of more than a kilometre in the sea.
Synonyms: deepness, drop, measure, extent More Synonyms of depth
2. variable noun [with poss]
The depth of something such as a cupboard or drawer is the distance between its front surface and its back.
3. variable noun
If an emotion is very strongly or intensely felt, you can talk about its depth.
I am well aware of the depth of feeling that exists here. [+ of]
'Tough, isn't it?' was all she said, but Amy felt the depth of her unspoken sympathy.
Synonyms: strength, intensity, seriousness, severity More Synonyms of depth
4. uncountable noun
The depth of a situation is its extent and seriousness.
The country's leadership had underestimated the depth of the crisis. [+ of]
Synonyms: severity, importance, significance, gravity More Synonyms of depth
5. uncountable noun
The depth of someone's knowledge is the great amount that they know.
We felt at home with her and were impressed with the depth of her knowledge. [+ of]
She wants to acquire a greater depth of understanding of the subject.
Synonyms: breadth, range, degree, extent More Synonyms of depth
6. uncountable noun
The depth of a colour is its intensity and strength.
White wines tend to gain depth of colour with age.
The blue base gives the red paint more depth.
Synonyms: intensity, strength, warmth, richness More Synonyms of depth
7. uncountable noun [oft NOUNof noun]
In photography and art, you say that a picture has depth or depth of field when you mean that it appears three-dimensional rather than flat.
[technical]
All the paintings are startlingly dramatic as a result of their depth of field andcolour.
8. uncountable noun
If you say that someone or something has depth, you mean that they have serious and interesting qualities which are not immediately obvious and which you have to think about carefully before you can fully understand them.
His music lacks depth.
There are hidden depths in all of us.
Synonyms: complexity, intricacy, elaboration, obscurity More Synonyms of depth
9. plural noun
The depths are places that are a long way below the surface of the sea or earth.
[literary]
The ship vanished into the depths.
10. plural noun
If you talk about the depths of an area, you mean the parts of it which are very far from the edge.
...the depths of the countryside. [+ of]
Somewhere in the depths of the pine forest an identical sound reverberated.
11. plural noun
If you are inthe depths of an unpleasant emotion, you feel that emotion very strongly.
I was in the depths of despair when the baby was sick. [+ of]
12. plural noun
If something happens in the depths of a difficult or unpleasant period of time, it happens in the middle and most severe or intense part of it.
The country is in the depths of a recession. [+ of]
...the depths of winter.
13.
See in depth
14.
See out of one's depth
15.
See out of one's depth
16. to plumb new depths
17. to plumb the depths
More Synonyms of depth
depth in British English
(dɛpθ)
noun
1.
the extent, measurement, or distance downwards, backwards, or inwards
2.
the quality of being deep; deepness
3.
intensity or profundity of emotion or feeling
4.
profundity of moral character; penetration; sagacity; integrity
5.
complexity or abstruseness, as of thought or objects of thought
6.
intensity, as of silence, colour, etc
7.
lowness of pitch
8. nautical
the distance from the top of a ship's keel to the top of a particular deck
9. (often plural)
a deep, far, inner, or remote part, such as an inaccessible region of a country
10. (often plural)
the deepest, most intense, or most severe part
the depths of winter
11. (usually plural)
a low moral state; demoralization
how could you sink to such depths?
12. (often plural)
a vast space or abyss
13. beyond one's depth
14. in depth
Word origin
C14: from depdeep + -th1
depth in American English
(dɛpθ)
noun
1.
a.
the distance from the top downward, from the surface inward, or from front to back
b.
perspective, as in a painting
2.
the quality or condition of being deep; deepness
; specif.,
a.
intensity, as of colors, silence, or emotion
b.
profundity of thought
c.
lowness of pitch
3.
the middle part
the depth of winter
4. [usually pl.]
the far inner or inmost part
the depths of a wood
5. [usually pl.]
the deep or deepest part, as of the sea
6. [usually pl.]
a.
the most extreme degree, as of despair
b.
a low state or condition
shocked that their principles had fallen to such depths
7.
reserve strength, as of suitable substitute players for a team
Idioms:
in depth
out of one's depth
Word origin
ME depthe < dep: see deep & -th1
More idioms containing
depth
out of your depth
COBUILD Collocations
depth
murky depths
Examples of 'depth' in a sentence
depth
Shows a lack of knowledge of the depth in English football and respect.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
A team playing at the peak of their powers against a side plumbing new depths of despair.
The Sun (2016)
United do not have the requisite depth at centre back and they would be playing one fewer central midfielder, despitebeing overloaded in that position.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Out of pain came a rare depth of emotion.
The Sun (2014)
It is the depth and intensity of the flower colour that matters.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The scale and depth of the crisis mean that its effects will be felt for much longer.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
You need a depth of scientific knowledge that takes many years to build up.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Wing is not an area of depth.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Thrilling fight scenes and characters with real depth.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Can you see the depth of field in that?
Oliver Poole BLACK KNIGHTS: On the Bloody Road to Baghdad (2003)
Yet these are neither simple nor necessarily a pleasure in the depths of the countryside.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
They have clearly got some real strength in depth up front.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Twist the nozzle to change the depth of colour.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
This is richly human and it has depth and complexity.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Such was his depth of despair he wrongly told himself he would be better off dead.
The Sun (2015)
He decided to express the depth of his feeling by reading her some of his poems.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Your family and friendships will bring increasing depth and meaning to your life.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The heads of their prey would sometimes become detached and bounce in grisly fashion into the depths below.
Wills, Christopher The Runaway Brain: the Evolution of Human Uniqueness (1993)
The speed with which a tsunami moves is determined by the depth of the sea at which the quake occurs.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
The touches of electronica that featured on her early work have disappeared and her songwriting has acquired new depth and clarity.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Few sights in life can compare to the humbling effect of gazing across the unknown depths and distances of the ocean.
Christianity Today (2000)
Of all the retro dishes, this one seems to have plumbed the deepest depths.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
By the 1970s it was examining in depth the moral and theological implications.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
This models what happens to real minerals at great depths beneath the earth 's crust.
Richard Fortey THE EARTH: An Intimate History (2004)
They lived in the depths of distant forests and held an annual convention near Chartres.
Begg, Ean & Rich, Deike On the Trail of Merlin - a guide to the Celtic mystery tradition (1991)
But don't expect dramatic depth.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
As the moon brings secrets to the surface, the depth of a partner's feelings surprises you.
The Sun (2011)
In other languages
depth
British English: depth /dɛpθ/ NOUN
The depth of something such as a hole is the distance between its top and bottom surfaces.
...the depth of the water.
American English: depth
Arabic: عُمْق
Brazilian Portuguese: profundidade
Chinese: 深度
Croatian: dubina
Czech: hloubka
Danish: dybde
Dutch: diepte
European Spanish: profundidad
Finnish: syvyys
French: profondeur
German: Tiefe
Greek: βάθος
Italian: profondità
Japanese: 深さ
Korean: 깊이
Norwegian: dybde
Polish: głębokość
European Portuguese: profundidade
Romanian: adâncime
Russian: глубина
Latin American Spanish: profundidad
Swedish: djup avgrund
Thai: ความลึก
Turkish: derinlik
Ukrainian: глибина
Vietnamese: chiều sâu
All related terms of 'depth'
in depth
If you deal with a subject in depth , you deal with it very thoroughly and consider all the aspects of it.
depth gauge
a device attached to a drill bit to prevent the hole from exceeding a predetermined depth
total depth
Total depth is the downward length of a well , measured by the length of pipe which is needed to reach the bottom .
depth charge
A depth charge is a type of bomb which explodes under water and which is used especially to destroy enemy submarines.
vortex depth
The vortex depth is the depth below an impeller at which its influence can still be seen in a mixed fluid.
depth of field
the range of distance in front of and behind an object focused by an optical instrument, such as a camera or microscope , within which other objects will also appear clear and sharply defined in the resulting image
depth of focus
the amount by which the distance between the camera lens and the film can be altered without the resulting image appearing blurred
depth perception
ability to see objects in perspective
depth psychology
the study of unconscious motives and attitudes
beyond one's depth
in water deeper than one is tall
defence in depth
the act or practice of positioning successive mutually supporting lines of defence in a given area
sonic depth finder
an instrument for detecting the depth of water or of a submerged object by means of sound waves ; Fathometer
out of one's depth
If you say that someone is out of their depth , you mean that they are in a situation that is much too difficult for them to be able to cope with it.
out of your depth
feeling anxious and inadequate because you have to deal with a situation or subject which you know very little about
Chinese translation of 'depth'
depth
(dɛpθ)
n
(c/u) (from top to bottom)[of hole, water]深 (shēn)
(c/u) (from front to back)[of cupboard, shelf etc]厚度 (hòudù) (个(個), gè)
(u)[of emotion, feeling]深厚 (shēnhòu)
(u)[of knowledge]渊(淵)博 (yuānbó)
[of understanding etc]深刻 (shēnkè)
at/to/from a depth of 3 metres在/到/从(從)3米深处(處) (zài/dào/cóng sān mǐ shēn chù)
18 metres in depth深18米 (shēn shíbā mǐ)
to be/go out of one's depth (in water) 水深没(沒)顶(頂)处(處) (shuǐshēn mòdǐng chù)
to be/feel out of one's depth (in situation) 力所不及 (lì suǒ bù jí)
to study/analyse sth in depth深入研究/分析某事 (shēnrù yánjiū/fēnxī mǒushì)
an in-depth investigation/analysis深入的调(調)查/分析 (shēnrù de diàochá/fēnxī)
Derived Forms
the depthsn pl (liter) [of ocean, earth]深处(處) (shēnchù) : the depths of the forest/countryside森林深处(處)/乡(鄉)郊野外 (sēnlín shēnchù/xiāngjiāo yěwài) , in the depths of despair/recession/winter深深陷入绝(絕)望/衰退中/在隆冬 (shēnshēn xiànrù juéwàng/shuāituì zhōng/zài lóngdōng)
All related terms of 'depth'
18 metres in depth
深18米 shēn shíbā mǐ
an in-depth investigation/analysis
深入的调(調)查/分析 shēnrù de diàochá/fēnxī
to be/feel out of one's depth
( in situation ) 力所不及 lì suǒ bù jí
to be/go out of one's depth
( in water ) 水深没(沒)顶(頂)处(處) shuǐshēn mòdǐng chù
to study/analyse sth in depth
深入研究/分析某事 shēnrù yánjiū/fēnxī mǒushì
at/to/from a depth of 3 metres
在/到/从(從)3米深处(處) zài/dào/cóng sān mǐ shēn chù
1 (noun)
Definition
the distance downwards, backwards, or inwards
The fish were detected at depths of more than a kilometre.
Synonyms
deepness
drop
measure
The colonies were claiming a larger measure of self-government.
extent
profundity
the profundity of the problems besetting the country
profoundness
2 (noun)
Definition
intensity of emotion or feeling
I am well aware of the depth of feeling that exists in the town.
Synonyms
strength
intensity
His intensity, and the ferocity of his feelings alarmed me.
seriousness
severity
extremity
his lack of restraint in the extremity of his grief
keenness
intenseness
3 (noun)
The country's leadership had underestimated the depth of the crisis.
Synonyms
severity
He was sickened by the severity of the sentence.
importance
Safety is of paramount importance.
significance
ideas about the social significance of religion
gravity
You don't seem to appreciate the gravity of this situation.
urgency
It is a matter of utmost urgency.
moment
I was glad I had nothing of great moment to do that afternoon.
weight
That argument no longer carries much weight.
danger
seriousness
the seriousness of the crisis
severeness
4 (noun)
Definition
the quality of having a high degree of knowledge, insight, and understanding
His writing has a depth that will outlast him.
Synonyms
insight
He was a man of considerable insight and diplomatic skills.
intelligence
She's a woman of exceptional intelligence.
wisdom
a woman respected for her wisdom and insight
penetration
profundity
the profundity of this book
acuity
discernment
their lack of discernment and acceptance of inferior quality
perspicacity (formal)
his extraordinary political perspicacity
sagacity
a person of great sagacity and immense experience
astuteness
With characteristic astuteness, she spoke separately to all involved.
profoundness
perspicuity
Opposites
emptiness
,
triviality
,
superficiality
,
lack of depth or substance
5 (noun)
Definition
the quality of having a high degree of knowledge, insight, and understanding
The teacher was impressed by the depth of the student's knowledge.
Synonyms
breadth
The breadth of his knowledge filled me with admiration.
range
The trees on the mountain within my range of vision had all been felled.
degree
extent
an estate about seven or eight acres in extent
scope
the scope of a novel
magnitude
the magnitude of the task confronting them
amplitude
The operatic amplitude of her voice suits the occasion.
comprehensiveness
extensiveness
6 (noun)
Definition
intensity of colour
The blue base gives the red paint more depth.
Synonyms
intensity
strength
He was surprised at the strength of his own feeling.
warmth
richness
brightness
You'll be impressed with the brightness of the colours.
vibrancy
vividness
the startling vividness of colours in his surroundings
7 (noun)
His music lacks depth.
Synonyms
complexity
a diplomatic problem of great complexity
intricacy
Garments are priced according to the intricacy of the work.
elaboration
obscurity
Hunt was irritated by the obscurity of his reply.
abstruseness
reconditeness
1 (plural noun)
Definition
a remote inaccessible region
A sound came from the depths of the forest.
Synonyms
deepest part
middle
midst
remotest part
furthest part
innermost part
2 (plural noun)
Definition
the most severe part
a man who had plumbed the depths of despair
Synonyms
most intense part
pit
void
abyss
chasm
deepest part
furthest part
bottomless depth
phrase
See in depth
Additional synonyms
in the sense of abstruseness
Synonyms
obscurity,
depth,
complexity,
subtlety,
vagueness,
perplexity,
profundity,
esotericism,
incomprehensibility,
mysteriousness,
deepness,
arcaneness,
occultness,
reconditeness
in the sense of amplitude
Definition
greatness of extent
The operatic amplitude of her voice suits the occasion.
Synonyms
extent,
reach,
range,
size,
mass,
sweep,
dimension,
bulk,
scope,
width,
magnitude,
compass,
greatness,
breadth,
expanse,
vastness,
spaciousness,
bigness,
largeness,
hugeness,
capaciousness
in the sense of astuteness
With characteristic astuteness, she spoke separately to all involved.