depth

[ depth ]

noun

1. a dimension taken through an object or body of material, usually downward from an upper surface, horizontally inward from an outer surface, or from top to bottom of something regarded as one of several layers.
2. the quality of being deep; deepness.
3. complexity or obscurity, as of a subject:

   a question of great depth.

4. gravity; seriousness:

   I don't think you recognize the depth of the problem.

   Synonyms: weight, significance, importance, import

5. emotional profundity:

   the depth of someone's feelings.

6. intensity, as of silence, color, etc.
7. lowness of tonal pitch:

   the depth of a voice.

8. the amount of knowledge, intelligence, wisdom, insight, feeling, etc., present in a person's mind or evident either in some product of the mind, as a learned paper, argument, work of art, etc., or in the person's behavior.
9. a high degree of such knowledge, insight, etc.
10. Often depths. a deep part or place:

    from the depths of the ocean.

11. an unfathomable space; abyss:

    the depth of time.

12. Sometimes depths. the farthest, innermost, or extreme part or state:

    the depth of space;

    the depths of the forest;

    the depths of despair.

13. Usually depths. a low intellectual or moral condition:

    How could he sink to such depths?

14. the part of greatest intensity, as of night or winter.
15. Sports. the strength of a team in terms of the number and quality of its substitute players:

    With no depth in the infield, an injury to any of the regulars would be costly.

depth

/ 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 or out of one's depth
    1. in water deeper than one is tall
    2. beyond the range of one's competence or understanding
14. in depth
    thoroughly or comprehensively See also in-depth

Other Words From

• depthless adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of depth¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English depthe, equivalent to deep + -th ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of depth¹

C14: from dep deep + -th ¹

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. in depth, extensively or thoroughly:

   Make a survey in depth of the conditions.

2. out of / beyond one's depth,
   1. in water deeper than one's height or too deep for one's safety.
   2. beyond one's knowledge or capability:

      The child is being taught subjects that are beyond his depth.

More idioms and phrases containing depth

see in depth ; out of one's depth .

Example Sentences

Smerilli performed most of the instruments himself, including the inky depths of a contrabass clarinet, which he purchased and learned just for this score.

From Los Angeles Times

"I need actual depth... I'm a slow, slow burner," she said.

From BBC

"Then using mass spectrometry, we could increase the depth of proteome coverage by over seven-fold."

From Science Daily

To be sure, a few nuggets of legitimate science peek out from within the depths of Kennedy’s world view, as is often the case with conspiracists.

From Los Angeles Times

After the first documented epidemic outbreak between 1955 and 1956, more than 50 years passed before researchers began to study the disease in depth.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• acumen
• intellect
• intelligence
• sense