- Depth is defined as the distance from top down or front to back, or the intensity of color or sound.
- An example of depth is a swimming pool being six feet deep.
- An example of depth is the darkness of a purple dress.
The depth of this pool is six feet.
- the distance from the top downward, from the surface inward, or from front to back
- perspective, as in a painting
- the quality or condition of being deep; deepness; specif.,
- intensity, as of colors, silence, or emotion
- profundity of thought
- lowness of pitch
- the middle part: the depth of winter
- the far inner or inmost part: the depths of a wood
- the deep or deepest part, as of the sea
- the most extreme degree, as of despair
- a low state or condition: shocked that their principles had fallen to such depths
- reserve strength, as of suitable substitute players for a team
Origin of depthMiddle English depthe ; from dep: see deep and amp; -th
out of one's depthor out beyond one's depth
- in water too deep for one
- past one's ability or understanding
- The condition or quality of being deep.
- a. The extent, measurement, or dimension downward, backward, or inward: dove to a depth of 30 feet; shelves with enough depth to store the large boxes.b. The measurement or sense of distance from an observation point, such as linear perspective in painting.
- often depths A deep part or place: the ocean depths; in the depths of the forest.
- a. The most profound or intense part or stage: the depth of despair; an experience that touched the depths of tragedy.b. Intensity; force: had not realized the depth of their feelings for one another.
- The severest or worst part: in the depth of an economic depression.
- A low point, level, or degree: Production has fallen to new depths.
- Intellectual complexity or penetration; profundity: a novel of great depth.
- The range of one's understanding or competence: I am out of my depth when it comes to cooking.
- Strength held in reserve, especially a supply of skilled or capable replacements: a team with depth at every position.
- The degree of richness or intensity: depth of color.
- Lowness in pitch.
- Complete detail; thoroughness: the depth of her research; an interview conducted in great depth.
Origin of depthMiddle English depthe, from dep, deep; see deep.
See also heights.bathometer Oceanography. a device for ascertaining the depth of water. bathyclinograph a device for ascertaining vertical currents in the deeper parts of the sea. bathymetry the measurement of the depths of oceans, seas, or other large bodies of water. —bathymetric, bathymetrical. adj. bathyscaphe, bathyscaph Oceanography. a small, modified submarine for deep-sea exploration, usually having a spherical observation chamber fixed under a buoyancy chamber. bathysphere Oceanography. a spherical diving apparatus from which to study deep-sea life. bathythermograph a device that records the temperature of water as a reflex of depth. benthos 1. the depths or bottom of the sea. 2. organic life that inhabits the bottom of the sea. benthoscope an apparatus for surveying the depths or bottom of the sea.
- The vertical distance below a surface; the amount that something is deep.
- Measure the depth of the water in this part of the bay.
- The distance between the front and the back, as the depth of a drawer or closet.
- (figuratively) The intensity, complexity, strength, seriousness or importance of an emotion, or situation.
- The depth of her misery was apparent to everyone.
- The depth of the crisis had been exaggerated.
- (computing, colors) The total palette of available colors.
- (art, photography) The property of appearing three-dimensional.
- The depth of field in this picture is amazing.
- (literary, usually plural) The deepest part. (Usually of a body of water.)
- The burning ship finally sunk into the depths.
- (literary, usually plural) A very remote part.
- Into the depths of the jungle...
- In the depths of the night,
- The most severe part.
- in the depth of the crisis.
- in the depths of winter.
- (statistics) The lower of the two ranks of a value in an ordered set of values.
From Middle English depthe, from Old English *dīepþ (“depth”), from Proto-Germanic *diupiþō (“depth”), equivalent to deep + -th. Cognate with Scots deepth (“depth”), West Frisian djipte (“depth”), Dutch diepte (“depth”), Middle Low German dēpede (“depth”), Danish dybde (“depth”), Icelandic dýpt (“depth”), Gothic (diupiþa, “depth”).