deep

American  

[deep] / dip /

adjective

deeper, deepest

1. extending far down from the top or surface.

   a deep well;

   a deep valley.

   Antonyms:

   shallow

2. extending far in or back from the front or from an edge, surface, opening, etc., considered as the front.

   a deep shelf.

3. extending far in width; broad.

   deep lace;

   a deep border.

4. ranging far from the earth and sun.

   a deep space probe.

5. having a specified dimension in depth.

   a tank 8 feet deep.

6. covered or immersed to a specified depth (often used in combination).

   standing knee-deep in water.

7. having a specified width or number of items from front to back (often used in combination).

   shelves that are 10 inches deep;

   cars lined up at the entrance gates three-deep.

8. extending or cutting far down relative to the surface of a given object.

   The knife made a deep scar in the table.

9. situated far down, in, or back.

   deep below the surface;

   deep in the woods.

10. reaching or advancing far down.

    a deep dive.

    Antonyms:

    shallow

11. coming from far down.

    a deep breath.

12. made with the body bent or lowered to a considerable degree.

    a deep bow.

13. immersed or submerged in or heavily covered with (followed byin ).

    a road deep in mud.

14. difficult to penetrate or understand; abstruse.

    a deep allegory.

    Synonyms:

    obscure, mysterious, recondite

15. not superficial; profound.

    deep thoughts.

16. grave or serious.

    deep disgrace.

17. heartfelt; sincere.

    deep affections.

18. absorbing; engrossing.

    deep study.

19. great in measure; intense; extreme.

    deep sorrow.

20. sound and heavy.

    deep sleep.

21. (of colors) dark and vivid.

    a deep red.

22. low in pitch, as sound, a voice, or the like.

    deep, sonorous tones.

23. having penetrating intellectual powers.

    a deep scholar.

    Synonyms:

    sagacious, shrewd, intelligent, wise

24. profoundly cunning or artful.

    a deep and crafty scheme.

25. mysterious; obscure.

    deep, dark secrets.

26. immersed or involved; enveloped.

    a man deep in debt.

27. absorbed; engrossed.

    deep in thought.

28. Baseball. relatively far from home plate.

    He hit the ball into deep center field.

29. Linguistics. belonging to an early stage in the transformational derivation of a sentence; belonging to the deep structure.

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noun

1. the deep part of a body of water, especially an area of the ocean floor having a depth greater than 18,000 feet (5,400 meters).

2. a vast extent, as of space or time.

3. the part of greatest intensity, as of winter.

4. Nautical. any of the unmarked levels, one fathom apart, on a deep-sea lead line.

5. Chiefly Literary. the deep, the sea or ocean.

   He was laid to rest in the deep.

adverb

deeper, deepest

1. to or at a considerable or specified depth.

   The boat rode deep in the water.

2. far on in time.

   He claimed he could see deep into the future.

3. profoundly; intensely.

4. Baseball. at or to a deep place or position.

   The outfielders played deep, knowing the batter's reputation as a slugger.

idioms

1. in deep,

   1. inextricably involved.

   2. having made or committed oneself to make a large financial investment.

2. go off the deep end,

   1. to enter upon a course of action with heedless or irresponsible indifference to consequences.

   2. to become emotionally overwrought.

3. in deep water,

   1. in difficult or serious circumstances; in trouble.

   2. in a situation beyond the range of one's capability or skill.

      You're a good student, but you'll be in deep water in medical school.

deep British  

/ diːp /

adjective

1. extending or situated relatively far down from a surface

   a deep pool

2. extending or situated relatively far inwards, backwards, or sideways

   a deep border of trees

3. cricket relatively far from the pitch

   the deep field

   deep third man

4. 1. (postpositive) of a specified dimension downwards, inwards, or backwards

      six feet deep

   2. ( in combination )

      a six-foot-deep trench

5. coming from or penetrating to a great depth

   a deep breath

6. difficult to understand or penetrate; abstruse

7. learned or intellectually demanding

   a deep discussion

8. of great intensity; extreme

   deep happiness

   deep trouble

9. absorbed or enveloped (by); engrossed or immersed (in)

   deep in study

   deep in debt

10. very cunning or crafty; devious

    a deep plot

11. mysterious or obscure

    a deep secret

12. (of a colour) having an intense or dark hue

13. low in pitch or tone

    a deep voice

14. informal

    1. to lose one's temper; react angrily

    2. to act rashly

15. in a tricky position or in trouble

16. See end 1

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noun

1. any deep place on land or under water, esp below 6000 metres (3000 fathoms)

2. 1. a poetic term for the ocean

   2. cricket the area of the field relatively far from the pitch

3. the most profound, intense, or central part

   the deep of winter

4. a vast extent, as of space or time

5. nautical one of the intervals on a sounding lead, one fathom apart

adverb

1. far on in time; late

   they worked deep into the night

2. profoundly or intensely

3. informal in reality, esp as opposed to appearance

   she is a very kind person deep down

4. long ago

deep More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing deep

• beauty is only skin deep
• between a rock and a hard place (devil and deep blue sea)
• go off the deep end
• in deep
• still waters run deep

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Other Word Forms

• deeply adverb
• deepness noun
• nondeep adjective
• overdeep adjective
• undeep adjective
• undeeply adverb

Etymology

Origin of deep

First recorded before 900; Middle English dep, Old English dēop; akin to Gothic diups, Old Norse djupr, Dutch diep, Old High German tiof; akin to dip ¹ ( def. ), dive ( def. )

Related Words

• dark
• extreme
• great
• hard
• profound
• rich
• strong
• vivid