depth
n. C / Un. the distance from the top to the bottom of something, or from the front to the back. It can also describe how serious or strong a feeling or idea is.
n. the distance from the top or surface to the bottom, or from the front to the back of an object. Often used figuratively to describe the intensity of an emotion or the complexity of a concept.
The pool has a depth of two meters.
The divers were surprised by the depth of the lake, which was much deeper than the map suggested.
The novelist explores the psychological depth of her characters, revealing motivations that are not immediately apparent to the casual reader.
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”).
Often used with the preposition 'of' when specifying measurements or abstract qualities.
The water is five meters depth.The water is five meters deep.Learners often use the noun 'depth' where the adjective 'deep' is required to describe a state.