depth
/dɛpθ
/noun [mass noun]
1The distance from the top or surface to the bottom of something: water of no more than 12 feet in depth...
- What is the condition of the bottom and depth of soft mud in that berth?
- Wading usually is easy over a gravel bottom of predictable depth and flow, with ample room for backcasts.
- Pots were PVC cylinders, 20 cm diameter and 50 cm depth, sealed at the bottom.
Synonyms
deepness, distance downwards, distance inwards, distance from the outside;
drop, vertical drop, vertical extent, profundity
1.1The distance from the front to the back of something: the depth of the wardrobe...
- It was unsurpassed in the length of the front, depth of the advance and retreat, duration of continuous fighting, and the size of the armies on each side.
- The hood is a separate panel that adds depth to the front section, and ties the fenders, greenhouse and nose together.
- Despite all that the Nazi forces breached the Voronezh Front to the depth of 30-35 kilometers.
1.2The distance from the top or surface of something to a specified lower point within it: [in singular]: loosen the soil to a depth of 8 inches...
- A retractable floor in the learner pool raises and lowers to a depth of 2.5metres and it has a pioneering access system with platforms and lifts for the disabled.
- All stone and other deleterious material larger than 3 inches shall be buried to a depth of not less than 24 inches or such other depth as may be agreed with the Local Planning Authority.
- The fires penetrated into the dried-out surface peat to a depth of up to 1.5 metres.
1.3The apparent existence of three dimensions in a picture or other two-dimensional representation: texture in a picture gives it depth...
- John himself hand-colors or antiques the enlarged picture, adding beauty, dimension and depth.
- Showy but not slick, the work has a new painterly depth and dimension that take it beyond the surface.
- The most popular is selenium toner, which deepens the blacks and shadow areas of the print, adding depth and dimension.
2The quality of being intense or extreme: he was surprised by the depth of Eloise’s vindictiveness the government failed to understand the depth of the problems...
- His rare lyrical quality bears emotional depth without sickly sweetness, and sly humour without jokey or ironic irritants.
- The guitar and bass gave the sound real mod attitude, while the backing vocals added as much soul as the keyboards offered depth and quality to the experience.
- He chooses his roles, he says, based on the quality, depth and intelligence of the script.
2.1Complexity and profundity of thought: the book has unexpected depth...
- Given the importance of her topic and the crucial questions she raises, I wish her book had more depth and complexity.
- We think that as leaders we are supposed to show gravitas: depth, profundity.
- The complexity and depth of these scholars' individual accounts of the sultana have varied according to her relevance to their respective works.
Synonyms
profoundness, profundity, deepness, wisdom, understanding, intelligence, sagacity, discernment, perceptiveness, penetration, perspicuity, insight, awareness, intuition, astuteness, acumen, shrewdness, acuity;
learning, erudition, knowledgeability
rare sapience
complexity, intricacy, profoundness, profundity, gravity, seriousness, weight, importance, moment, solemnity
2.2Extensive and detailed study or knowledge: third-year courses typically go into more depth...
- Mike should be congratulated on his detailed research, and depth of knowledge and compelling style of presentation.
- It is a lively, thriving collection of diverse women whose depth of knowledge and experience never fails to amaze me, but who are kind and supportive and above all very practical.
- Members of any profession require wide knowledge and depth of experience the relevance of some of which might not have been obvious at the time of learning.
Synonyms
extent, range, scope, breadth, width, extensiveness, comprehensiveness;
compass, magnitude, scale, degree
3Intensity of colour: strong lighting will accentuate the depth of colour...
- ‘I use my oil colours like water colours, in diluted form, layer after layer to bring more depth to the colour,’ he says.
- The uneven depth of colour, as in all these works, adds a flickering dimension to the work, form flexing in and out of light like a half-grasped memory.
- This can usually be done by changing the colour depth to a ‘grayscale’ setting, or by setting the hue/colour saturation to zero.
Synonyms
intensity, richness, deepness, darkness, vividness, strength, brilliance
4 (the depths) A point far below the surface: he lifted the manhole cover and peered into the depths beneath...
- They cut the mast and sails loose and watched as it vanished into the depths below.
- Another unique feature of sea power is that modern navies operate not only on the surface of the ocean, but in the depths below it and the air above it.
- An endearing memory is surfacing from the depths to see Mike and Joe wearing their masks, facing each other separated by about three metres.
Synonyms
deepest part, remotest area, bottom, floor, bed, abyss, back, pit;
bowels
4.1A time considered to be the worst point within a bad period: 4 a.m. in the depths of winter...
- It was by no means unusual to see children going barefoot in the depths of winter and offering matches for sale with hands that looked like those of old men.
- In the depths of night on Mars, however, fine particles quickly become cold as temperatures plunge after sundown.
- People often though her proud but none of that showed as she huddled alone within the depths of darkness.
4.2A time when one’s negative feelings are at their most intense: she was in the depths of despair...
- Theo was in the depths of despair as it was ten years to the day that his beautiful wife died, somewhat mysteriously.
- Little more than a year ago he was in the depths of despair, but yesterday he put it all behind him with a wonderful victory over his rival.
- ‘We were promised Utopia and we are in the depths of despair,’ said one governor.
4.3A remote and inaccessible place: I wish I didn’t live in the depths of Devon...
- As Arthur and I venture into the depths of the region, a stunning backdrop and cloudless sky sets the scene for meeting the painter.
- She took the four teenagers to live in the depths of Norfolk, with no communication from the outside world for three and a half weeks.
- Here in the depths of the Wiltshire countryside it is hard to find experts capable of resolving this question.
Phrases
hidden depths
in depth
out of one's depth
Origin
Late Middle English: from deep + -th2, on the pattern of pairs such as long, length.
deep from Old English:
The word deep is related to dip (Old English) and dive (Old English), and in Old English could also mean depth (Late Middle English). The phrase in deep water, ‘in trouble or difficulty’, has biblical origins. The writer of one of the Psalms begged, ‘Let me be delivered from them that hate me, and out of the deep waters’. The deep waters of a swimming pool did not become familiar enough to provide linguistic inspiration until the 20th century. If you go off the deep end you have an emotional outburst, especially of anger, and to jump (or be thrown) in at the deep end is to face a difficult undertaking with little or no preparation or experience.