# deep

Pronunciation: say "DEEP" /diːp/

## Adjective

1. Extending far down from the top or surface, or lying far below the surface or far inside something, physically or in a figurative sense.
   - Simple: Going far down from the top or surface, or lying far below it or far inside something.
   - _The water at that end of the pool is too deep for small children to stand in._
   - _The canyon is so deep that sunlight reaches its floor for only a few hours a day._
3. Significant and far-reaching in extent, rather than superficial.
   - Simple: Strong and serious, not small or only on the surface.
   - _The reform brought deep changes to the education system._
   - _When the country slid into a deep recession, many small businesses closed for good._
4. Of a feeling or attitude, intense and sincerely held.
   - Simple: Of a feeling, felt very strongly and truly.
   - _The coach spoke of his deep respect for the players who had stayed through the losing seasons._
   - _Many residents voiced deep distrust of the new development plan._
5. Highly saturated and rich in color or tone.
   - Simple: Strong and rich in color.
   - _The artist chose a deep crimson for the background._
   - _Autumn leaves turned a deep golden shade._
6. Having great or serious meaning, often hard to understand fully; profound.
   - Simple: Serious and full of meaning, sometimes hard to understand.
   - _His poetry explores deep themes of loss and memory._
   - _The lecture raised deep philosophical questions that few could answer._
7. Extending to a level or length equivalent to the stated measure or object.
   - Simple: Reaching up to the level or length of the thing named.
   - _The water rose until it stood three feet deep in the lobby._
   - _Wading through grass that grew knee-deep, they searched for the lost dog._
8. Low in pitch, as a voice or musical tone.
   - Simple: Low in sound, like a low voice or note.
   - _The singer's deep bass resonated through the hall._
   - _A deep rumble of thunder rolled across the valley._
9. Large in volume or capacity; able to hold or contain a great amount.
   - Simple: Holding or containing a large amount.
   - _Investors with deep reserves can weather a long downturn._
   - _She took a deep breath, counted to three, and walked out onto the stage._
15. Thoroughly immersed in an activity, a line of thought or a condition, as with conversation, study or debt.
   - Simple: Completely caught up in something, such as a talk, your own thoughts, or owing money.
   - _By the end of college, he was deep in debt and working two jobs to keep up._
   - _I found her at the kitchen table, deep in thought over a pile of old letters._
16. Of sleep, sound and heavy, such that one is not easily awoken.
   - Simple: So sound and heavy that a person does not wake up easily.
   - _The baby finally settled into a deep sleep._
   - _After the marathon, she sank into a deep, dreamless slumber._
11. Far in extent from front to back, or in a direction other than downward.
   - Simple: Measuring a long way from front to back.
   - _The theater has a deep stage that can hold large sets._
   - _Shoppers reached into the deep shelves at the back of the store._
12. Reaching or extending a long way, especially far forward into an area.
   - Simple: Reaching a long way forward into an area.
   - _The midfielder threaded a deep pass behind the defense._
   - _Her deep return pushed her opponent well behind the baseline._
13. Of a team or a field of competitors, well stocked with capable players or contenders instead of relying on a few stars.
   - Simple: Of a team or group of players, having many good players, not just a few stars.
   - _With such a deep roster, the coach can rest his starters without losing ground._
   - _This year's field is unusually deep, with a dozen riders capable of winning the title._
17. Arranged in a specified number of rows or layers.
   - Simple: Arranged in a stated number of rows or layers.
   - _Spectators packed the sidewalk six deep to watch the procession._
   - _The cars were parked two deep in the narrow lot._
18. Relating to one's inner, underlying, or true self rather than what is visible on the surface.
   - Simple: Coming from one's true inner self, not what shows on the outside.
   - _Only in his letters home did he reveal the deeper reasons behind his decision to enlist._
   - _Therapy helped her see the deep need for approval that had quietly shaped her choices for years._
14. In sports, positioned far back toward one's own goal or baseline, or far out near the edge of the field.
   - Simple: In sports, playing far back near your own goal or far out near the edge of the field.
   - _Protecting a one-goal lead, the visitors dropped into a deep defensive shape and dared their opponents to break through._
   - _A deep safety covered the long passes downfield._
21. Belonging to the distant past; ancient.
   - Simple: From a very long time ago, or very old.
   - _Geologists trace the planet's story back into deep time._
   - _The myth has roots in a deep antiquity that no record can reach._
23. Having a penetrating, far-reaching intellect; thoroughly skilled, shrewd, and sometimes cunning.
   - Simple: Very clever and able to understand things others miss, and sometimes sly.
   - _A deep strategist, the general anticipated every move his rivals made._
   - _Colleagues who mistook her quiet manner for innocence soon learned she was a deep and shrewd negotiator._

## Adverb

2. Far down through or into something, whether physically or in a figurative sense.
   - Simple: Going far down into or through something.
   - _The hikers ventured deep into the forest before nightfall._
   - _He reached deep into his savings to cover the cost._
10. In a profound rather than superficial manner.
   - Simple: In a strong way that goes far below the surface, not just a little.
   - _The criticism cut deep, though she smiled and thanked the panel for their comments._
   - _These traditions run deep in the community._
19. Far back toward one's own goal, baseline, or similar point.
   - Simple: Far back toward your own goal or line.
   - _The midfielder sat deep, shielding the back four all match._
   - _He retreated deep to cover the long ball over the top._
20. To a large volume or amount.
   - Simple: By a large amount or volume.
   - _After the long climb, they drank deep from their canteens._
   - _He filled his lungs and breathed deep before the dive._

## Noun

22. The sea or ocean, especially its waters far below the surface; used with the. *(literary)*
   - Simple: A poetic word for the sea, especially the deep water far below the top.
   - _For months the crew saw nothing but the deep stretching to the horizon._
   - _Ancient mariners feared the creatures said to lurk in the deep._
24. The innermost part of something, or the middle or most intense part of a period, as in the deep of winter or of the night.
   - Simple: The deepest, most hidden or middle part of something, like the middle of winter or night.
   - _We set out in the deep of night, while the whole village slept._
   - _The cabin was cut off in the deep of winter, when snow buried the only road._
25. A pit, well, or chasm reaching far down; an abyss.
   - Simple: A hole, well, or pit that goes very far down.
27. A fielding position near the boundary of a cricket field.
   - Simple: A fielding spot near the edge of a cricket field.
   - _He was posted in the deep to cut off the big hits over the infield._
   - _A misjudged catch in the deep let the batsmen run three._

## Noun

26. A rich, intense shade of a particular color. *(rare)*
   - Simple: A dark, rich shade of a color.

## Other meanings

- (adjective) Of a road, so soft and wet with mud, or so loose with sand, that wheels and feet sink in and travel is slow.
- (noun) The hardest or most fundamental part of a problem, the part that takes real thought to grasp.
- (verb) To read more meaning or seriousness into something than it really has, or to think about it far too much.
- (verb) To think something over carefully and seriously, or to reflect on it.

## Origin

From Middle English depe, from Old English dēop ("deep, profound; serious; great"), from Proto-Germanic *deupaz, ultimately from a Proto-Indo-European root *dʰewbʰ- meaning "deep." It is related to Dutch diep, German tief, and Swedish djup, all meaning "deep."

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/deep (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).