Pronunciations (2)
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/diːp/
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diːp
Adjective
Extending, reaching or positioned far from a point of reference, especially downwards. Extending far down from the top, or surface, to the bottom, literally or figuratively.
Usage- also
- Figurative
- of distance or position
- Examples
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The lake is extremely deep.
We hiked into a deep valley between tall mountains.
More examples (7)
There was a deep layer of dust on the floor; the room had not been disturbed for many years.
In the mid-1970s, the economy went into a deep recession.
We are in deep trouble.
Smooth runnes the Water, where the Brooke is deepe,
Here, in the transept and choir, where the service was being held, one was conscious every moment of an increasing brightness; colours glowing vividly beneath the circular chandeliers, and the rows of small lights on the choristers' desks flashed and sparkled in front of the boys' faces, deep linen collars, and red neckbands.
While Britain’s recession has been deep and unforgiving, in London it has been relatively shallow.
The differences in biofilm penetration patterns of both tested photosensitisers and the light source could have played an important role for the survival of microorganisms after the application of aPDT. In a recent own study, we showed that the deepest layers of the oral biofilm were not affected by the aPDT [4 ].
Extending, reaching or positioned far from a point of reference, especially downwards. Positioned far from the surface or other reference point, especially down through something or into something.
Usage- also
- Figurative
- of distance or position
- Examples
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Diving down to deep wrecks can be dangerous.
I can't get the bullet out – it's too deep.
Extending, reaching or positioned far from a point of reference, especially downwards. Positioned far from the boundaries of or main approaches to (the specified place); interior.
Usage- also
- Figurative
- of a place
- of distance or position
- Examples
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More examples (1)
He [the panda] comes from deepest Asia , high up in the remote mountains of Szechwan and Kansu. In addition to that he is further protected by the fact that he lives in the secure fastnesses of the bamboo jungles.
Impressive though Egyptian culture was, it was in deep Africa that Jung came closer to understanding himself as a man.
Films shot on location in deep Africa were still a rare exсерtion in 1960.
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Herodotus' remark about the Ethiopians 'who lived in the south' would refer to the people from deeper Africa, south of the Atlas Mountains, of whom a small number may here and there have seeped into North Africa, perhaps via the Nile Valley or by trans-Sahara trade routes, […]
Extending, reaching or positioned far from a point of reference, especially downwards. Far in extent in another (non-downwards, but generally also non-upwards) direction, especially front-to-back.
Usage- also
- Figurative
- of distance or position
- Examples
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The shelves are 30 centimetres deep. — They are deep shelves.
That cyclist's deep chest allows him to draw more air.
Extending, reaching or positioned far from a point of reference, especially downwards. Extending to a level or length equivalent to the stated thing.
Usage- also
- Figurative
- In compounds
- of distance or position
- Examples
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The water was waist-deep.
There is an arm-deep hole in the wall.
Extending, reaching or positioned far from a point of reference, especially downwards. In a (specified) number of rows or layers.
Usage- also
- Figurative
- of distance or position
- Examples
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a crowd four deep along the funeral procession, with people two deep on the sidewalks
The fleet of ships was fifty sail deep.
Extending, reaching or positioned far from a point of reference, especially downwards. Voluminous.
Usage- also
- Figurative
- of distance or position
- Examples
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to take a deep breath / sigh / drink
More examples (1)
Serene, smiling, enigmatic, she faced him with no fear whatever showing in her dark eyes.[…]She put back a truant curl from her forehead where it had sought egress to the world, and looked him full in the face now, drawing a deep breath which caused the round of her bosom to lift the lace at her throat.
Extending, reaching or positioned far from a point of reference, especially downwards. Far from the center of the playing area, near to the boundary of the playing area, either in absolute terms or relative to a point of reference.
Usage- also
- Figurative
- of distance or position
- Examples
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He is fielding at deep mid wicket.
She hit a ball into deep center field.
Extending, reaching or positioned far from a point of reference, especially downwards. Penetrating a long way, especially a long way forward.
Usage- also
- Figurative
- of distance or position
- Examples
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a deep volley
a deep run into the opposition half
Extending, reaching or positioned far from a point of reference, especially downwards. Positioned back, or downfield, towards one's own goal, or towards or behind one's baseline or similar reference point.
Usage- also
- Figurative
- of distance or position
- Examples
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Our defensive live is too deep. We need to move further up the field.
She returns serve from a very deep position.
Extending, reaching or positioned far from a point of reference, especially downwards. Further into the body.
Usage- also
- Figurative
- often
- with to
- of distance or position
- Antonyms
- Examples
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the brachialis is deep to the biceps
More examples (1)
The superficial fascia surrounds the body and includes subcutaneous fat; the deep fascia surrounds the musculoskeletal system; the meningeal fascia surrounds the nervous system; the visceral fascia surrounds body cavities and organs.
Complex, involved. Profound, having great meaning or import, but possibly obscure or not obvious.
- Examples
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That is a deep thought!
Complex, involved. Significant, not superficial, in extent.
- Examples
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Your analysis does not cut deep enough yet.
They're in deep discussion.
More examples (1)
And it's me you need to show / How deep is your love?
Complex, involved. Hard to penetrate or comprehend; profound; intricate; obscure.
- Examples
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a deep subject or plot
More examples (1)
Why it was that the ancients had no landscape painting, is a question deep almost as the mystery of life, and harder of solution than all the problems of jurisprudence combined.
Complex, involved. Of penetrating or far-reaching intellect; not superficial; thoroughly skilled; sagacious; cunning.
- Examples
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Deepe clearks ſhe dumb's
I never said I was deep, but I am profoundly shallow / My lack of knowledge is vast, and my horizons are narrow
Complex, involved. Inner, underlying, true; relating to one’s inner or private being rather than what is visible on the surface.
- Examples
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More examples (1)
Or doth she only seem to take The touch of change in calm or storm; But knows no more of transient form In her deep self, than some dead lake That holds the shadow of a lark Hung in the shadow of a heaven?
Low in pitch.
- Examples
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She has a very deep contralto voice.
More examples (1)
The departure was not unduly prolonged.[…]Within the door Mrs. Spoker hastily imparted to Mrs. Love a few final sentiments on the subject of Divine Intention in the disposition of buckets; farewells and last commiserations; a deep, guttural instigation to the horse; and the wheels of the waggonette crunched heavily away into obscurity.
Highly saturated; rich.
Usage- of a color or flavour
- Examples
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That's a very deep shade of blue.
The spices impart a deep flavour to the dish.
More examples (1)
The day was cool and snappy for August, and the Rise all green with a lavish nature. Now we plunged into a deep shade with the boughs lacing each other overhead, and crossed dainty, rustic bridges over the cold trout-streams, the boards giving back the clatter of our horses' feet:[…].
Sound, heavy (describing a state of sleep from which one is not easily awoken).
- Examples
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He was in a deep sleep.
Muddy; boggy; sandy; said of roads.
- Examples
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The ways in that vale were very deep.
Distant in the past, ancient.
Usage- of time
- Examples
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deep time
in the deep past
Adverb
Far, especially far down through something or into something, physically or figuratively.
- Examples
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The ogre lived in a cave deep underground.
We ventured deep into the forest.
More examples (4)
His problems lie deep in the subconscious.
I am deep in debt.
Hepaticology, outside the temperate parts of the Northern Hemisphere, still lies deep in the shadow cast by that ultimate "closet taxonomist," Franz Stephani—a ghost whose shadow falls over us all.
It is one of the ironies of capital cities that each acts as a symbol of its nation, and yet few are even remotely representative of it. London has always set itself apart from the rest of Britain — but political, economic and social trends are conspiring to drive that wedge deeper.
In a profound, not superficial, manner.
- Examples
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I thought long and deep.
deep-laid
More examples (1)
Deep verſt in books and ſhallow in himſelf,
In large volume.
- Examples
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breathe deep, drink deep
A little Learning is a dang'rous Thing; / Drink deep, or taſte not the Pierian Spring:
Back towards one's own goal, baseline, or similar.
- Examples
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He's normally a midfield player, but today he's playing deep.
Noun
The deep part of a lake, sea or ocean.
Usage- Countable
- Literary
- Uncountable
- with-definite-article
- Examples
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creatures of the deep
The sea, the ocean.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
- with-definite-article
- Examples
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How few! yet how they creep / Through my fingers to the deep, / While I weep—while I weep! / O God! can I not grasp / Them with a tighter clasp?
A deep hole or pit, a water well; an abyss.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
- Examples
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Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterfalls: All thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.
A deep or innermost part of something in general.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
- Examples
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And what delights can equal those That stir the spirit’s inner deeps, When one that loves but knows not, reaps A truth from one that loves and knows?
A silent time; quiet isolation.
Usage- Countable
- Literary
- Uncountable
- with-definite-article
- Examples
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the deep of night
A deep shade of colour.
Usage- Countable
- Rare
- Uncountable
- Examples
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For our blues we have the azures and ceruleans, lapis lazulis, the light and dusty, the powder blues, the deeps: royal, sapphire, navy, and marine […]
The profound part of a problem.
Usage- US usage
- Countable
- Rare
- Uncountable
A fielding position near the boundary.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
- Examples
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Russell is a safe pair of hands in the deep.
A deep hotel pan.
Usage- Countable
- Slang
- Uncountable
- Examples
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Coordinate term: shallow
Verb
To overthink; to treat as being deeper (“more profound, significant”) than in reality.
Usage- Multicultural-London-English
- Slang
- Transitive
- Examples
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― Ugh, why are these road markings so awfully arranged? ― Quit deeping it bro, just drive, innit.
To think about, especially deeply (“profoundly”); to consider.
Usage- Multicultural-London-English
- Slang
- Transitive
- Examples
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No Picasso, I don't care about resistance (Deep dat).
I think I better leave it. I don't wanna beat it, this is not a Michael phase. Every time I deep it, man dem wan' eat it. Trying to recycle, babe.
More examples (1)
I grew up so fucked but I didn't even deep it. I'm numb to the feelin' of grievin'.
Adjective
relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply
- Antonyms
- Examples
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a deep breath
a deep sigh
More examples (4)
deep concentration
deep emotion
a deep trance
in a deep sleep
marked by depth of thinking
- Examples
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deep thoughts
a deep allegory
having great spatial extension or penetration downward or inward from an outer surface or backward or laterally or outward from a center; sometimes used in combination
- Antonyms
- Examples
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a deep well
a deep dive
More examples (11)
deep water
a deep casserole
a deep gash
deep massage
deep pressure receptors in muscles
deep shelves
a deep closet
surrounded by a deep yard
hit the ball to deep center field
in deep space
waist-deep
very distant in time or space
- Examples
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deep in the past
deep in enemy territory
More examples (2)
deep in the woods
a deep space probe
intense or extreme
- Examples
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in deep trouble
deep happiness
having or denoting a low vocal or instrumental range
- Synonyms
- Examples
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a deep voice
a bass voice is lower than a baritone voice
More examples (1)
a bass clarinet
strong; intense
- Synonyms
- Examples
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deep purple
a rich red
relatively thick from top to bottom
- Examples
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deep carpets
deep snow
extending relatively far inward
- Examples
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a deep border
(of darkness) densely dark
- Synonyms
- Examples
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thick night
thick darkness
More examples (2)
a face in deep shadow
deep night
large in quantity or size
- Examples
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deep cuts in the budget
with head or back bent low
- Examples
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a deep bow
of an obscure nature
- Examples
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the new insurance policy is written without cryptic or mysterious terms
a deep dark secret
More examples (2)
the inscrutable workings of Providence
rituals totally mystifying to visitors from other lands
difficult to penetrate; incomprehensible to one of ordinary understanding or knowledge
- Examples
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the professor's lectures were so abstruse that students tended to avoid them
a deep metaphysical theory
More examples (1)
some recondite problem in historiography
exhibiting great cunning usually with secrecy
- Examples
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deep political machinations
a deep plot
Noun
the central and most intense or profound part
- Broader terms
- Examples
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in the deep of night
in the deep of winter
a long steep-sided depression in the ocean floor
- Synonyms
- Broader terms
literary term for an ocean
- Broader terms
- Examples
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denizens of the deep
Adverb
to a great depth; far down or in
- Synonyms
- Examples
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dived deeply
dug deep
to an advanced time
- Synonyms
- Examples
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deep into the night
talked late into the evening
to a great distance
- Examples
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penetrated deep into enemy territory
went deep into the woods