depression

[ dih-presh-uhn ]

noun

1. the act of depressing.
2. the state of being depressed.
3. a depressed or sunken place or part; an area lower than the surrounding surface.
4. sadness; gloom; dejection.

   Synonyms: despondency, discouragement

5. Psychiatry. a condition of general emotional dejection and withdrawal; sadness greater and more prolonged than that warranted by any objective reason. Compare clinical depression.
6. dullness or inactivity, as of trade.
7. Economics. a period during which business, employment, and stock-market values decline severely or remain at a very low level of activity.
8. the Depression. Great Depression.
9. Pathology. a low state of vital powers or functional activity.
10. Astronomy. the angular distance of a celestial body below the horizon; negative altitude.
11. Surveying. angle of depression ( def ).
12. Physical Geography. an area completely or mostly surrounded by higher land, ordinarily having interior drainage and not conforming to the valley of a single stream.
13. Meteorology. an area of low atmospheric pressure.

Depression

¹

/ dɪˈprɛʃən /

noun

1. the Depression
   the worldwide economic depression of the early 1930s, when there was mass unemployment Also known asthe Great Depressionthe Slump

depression

²

/ dɪˈprɛʃən /

noun

1. the act of depressing or state of being depressed
2. a depressed or sunken place or area
3. a mental disorder characterized by extreme gloom, feelings of inadequacy, and inability to concentrate
4. pathol an abnormal lowering of the rate of any physiological activity or function, such as respiration
5. an economic condition characterized by substantial and protracted unemployment, low output and investment, etc; slump
6. Also calledcyclonelow meteorol a large body of rotating and rising air below normal atmospheric pressure, which often brings rain
7. (esp in surveying and astronomy) the angular distance of an object, celestial body, etc, below the horizontal plane through the point of observation Compare elevation

depression

/ dĭ-prĕsh′ən /

1. A geographic area, such as a sinkhole or basin, that is lower than its surroundings.
2. A mood disorder characterized by an inability to experience pleasure, difficulty in concentrating, disturbance of sleep and appetite, and feelings of sadness, guilt, and helplessness.
3. A reduction in the activity of a physiological process, such as respiration.
4. A region of low atmospheric pressure. Low pressure systems result in precipitation, ranging from mild to severe in intensity.
5. See also cyclone

depression

1. A period of drastic decline in the national economy, characterized by decreasing business activity, falling prices, and unemployment. The best known of such periods is the Great Depression , which occurred in the 1930s.

Other Words From

• anti·de·pression adjective noun
• mini·de·pression noun
• nonde·pression noun
• postde·pression adjective
• prede·pression noun adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of depression¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English (from Anglo-French ), from Medieval Latin dēpressiōn- (stem of dēpressiō ), Late Latin: “a pressing down,” equivalent to Latin dēpress(us) + -iōn- noun suffix; depress, -ion

Example Sentences

Disordered eating is also linked to higher rates of depression and anxiety, both in the present and in the future.

From The Daily Beast

Women are more likely to recover sooner from birth and less likely to experience post-partum depression.

From The Daily Beast

Adrift in senility and depression, Hitchcock is dismantling his life, putting it away.

From The Daily Beast

He did suffer from ‘Black Dog’ [depression] as he called it and having something to concentrate on was therapeutic for him.

From The Daily Beast

Yet, in pursuit of that ‘great revival of art,’ his anxiety, depression, and overall health began to deteriorate.

From The Daily Beast

The inner ends of the burrows were enlarged with a depression in the floor, where the eggs were laid.

From Project Gutenberg

Financial depression had succeeded a time of wild excitement, and the Midland dividend had fallen from seven to two per cent.

From Project Gutenberg

Depression of these key-touches brought different combinations of stops into use on the keyboard above which they were placed.

From Project Gutenberg

The true causes of the depression were not within the control of the Insular Government or of any ruling factor.

From Project Gutenberg

Even if your first passion for her does cool somewhat, will nothing remain but disenchantment and depression?

From Project Gutenberg