depth

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   the attribute or quality of being deep, strong, or intense

   The depth of their breathing was impressive.

2. 2
   noun

   the extent downward or backward or inward

   the depth of the water

3. 3
   noun

   (usually plural) the deepest and most remote part

   from the depths of darkest Africa

4. 4
   noun

   a low moral state; usually plural

   I had sunk to the depths of addiction, but got clean and made something of my life.

5. 5
   noun

   the vertical distance below a surface; the degree to which something is deep

   Measure the depth of the water in this part of the bay.

6. 6
   noun

   the intensity, complexity, strength, seriousness or importance of an emotion, situation, etc.

   The depth of her misery was apparent to everyone.

7. 7
   noun

   lowness

   the depth of a sound

8. 8
   noun

   the property of appearing three-dimensional

   The depth of field in this picture is amazing.

Etymology

From Middle English depthe, from Old English *dīepþ (“depth”), from Proto-Germanic *diupiþō (“depth”), equivalent to deep + -th (abstract nominal suffix). Cognates Cognate with Scots deepth (“depth”), Saterland Frisian Djüpte (“depth”), West Frisian djipte (“depth; abyss, chasm”), Dutch diepte (“depth”), German Low German, Limburgish Deepde (“depth”), Luxembourgish Déift (“depth”), Danish, Norwegian Bokmål dybde (“depth”), Faroese dýpd (“depth”), Icelandic djúp, dýpi, dýpt (“depth”), Norwegian Nynorsk djup, djupn, djupt, dypt (“depth”), Swedish djup (“depth”), Gothic 𐌳𐌹𐌿𐍀𐌹𐌸𐌰 (diupiþa, “depth”)…