# deposit

/dəˈpɑzɪt/ (US) · /dɪpˈɒsɪt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/deposit
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 3. layer of substance

noun · CEFR B2

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

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

- The flood left a thick deposit of mud all over the fields.
- Geologists discovered a rich deposit of iron ore beneath the mountain range, suggesting the area was once volcanically active.

### 4. to put money in a bank

verb · CEFR B1

to put money into a bank account.

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

- I need to go to the bank to deposit this cheque.
- The company deposits the employees' salaries directly into their personal accounts on the last working day of each month.

### 5. to set something down

verb · CEFR B2

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

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

- The river deposits sand and stones along the banks as it slows down.
- The courier was instructed to deposit the sensitive documents in the secure locker located in the building's basement.

## Examples

- I need to make a deposit at the bank today.
- The landlord requires a one-month security deposit before you can move into the new apartment.
- Geologists discovered a massive iron ore deposit beneath the valley, which could provide enough raw material to sustain the local steel industry for several decades.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.