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deposit

n. · v.
US //dəˈpɑzɪt// UK //dɪpˈɒsɪt// de·posit
  1. 1 layer of substance (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Science

    a layer of a substance that has formed naturally or been left behind.

    an accumulation or layer of solid material, such as sediment or minerals, left by a natural process or chemical reaction.

    Example

    The flood left a thick deposit of mud all over the fields.

    Example

    Geologists discovered a rich deposit of iron ore beneath the mountain range, suggesting the area was once volcanically active.
  2. 2 to put money in a bank (v.)
    B1 Intermediate

    to put money into a bank account.

    to pay a sum of money into a financial account. Transitive — requires a direct object.

    Example

    I need to go to the bank to deposit this cheque.

    Example

    The company deposits the employees' salaries directly into their personal accounts on the last working day of each month.
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  1. 3 to set something down (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to leave something or put it down in a specific place.

    to set down or leave something in a particular place, often carefully or permanently.

    Example

    The river deposits sand and stones along the banks as it slows down.

    Example

    The courier was instructed to deposit the sensitive documents in the secure locker located in the building's basement.
Origin

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *de Proto-Italic *dē Latin dē Latin dē- Proto-Indo-European *h₂epó Proto-Indo-European *h₂pó Proto-Indo-European *teḱ-der. Proto-Indo-European *tḱey-der. Proto-Italic *sinō Proto-Italic *pozinō Old Latin *poznō Latin pōnō Latin dēpōnō Proto-Indo-European *-tós Proto-Italic *-tos Latin -tus Latin deposituslbor. English deposit Learned borrowing from Latin depositus, past participle of depono (“put down”). Doublet of depot.

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