/depθ; dɛpθ/
n
1 [C, U]
(a) distance from the top down 深, 深度（从上至下的距离）
*the depth of the well, mine, box, trunk 井、矿井、盒、行李箱的深度
* Water was found at a depth of
30 ft. 在30英尺深处找到了水.
* At what depth does the wreck lie? 沉船位置的深度是多少? =>illus at dimension 见dimension之插图.
(b) distance from the front to the back 宽, 宽度（从前至後的距离）
*shelves with a depth of
8 ins 8英寸宽的搁板.
(c) distance from the surface inwards 深, 深度（从表面向内部的距离）
*the depth of a wound, crack, etc 伤口、裂缝等的深度.
2 [C, U]
(a) (of colours, darkness, etc) intensity （指颜色、黑暗等）浓度, 强度.
(b) (of sounds) lowness in pitch （指声音）低沉.
3 [U]
(a) (of feelings, etc) sincerity; intensity （指感情等）诚挚, 真诚, 强烈
*the depth of her love 她爱情的真挚.
(b) ability to understand or explain difficult ideas 领悟或解释深奥意念的能力
*a writer of great depth and wisdom 极具领悟力和智慧的作家.
(c) having or showing this ability 上述能力的体现
*a novel that lacks depth 缺乏深度的小说.
4 (idm 习语) ,in `depth thoroughly 完全地; 彻底地; 深入地
*to study a subject in depth 深入研究一科目
* [attrib 作定语] an ,in-depth `study 深入的研究. in the ~(s) of sth when or where sth is deepest, most severe, etc 在最深处; 在最严峻的时刻
*in the depth of winter 在隆冬
* in the depths of despair 在绝望的深渊
* in the depth of the country, ie a long way from a town 在偏远的乡村. (be/get) out of one's depth
(a) (be/go) in water too deep to stand in 在深得不能站立的水中
*If you can't swim, don't get out of your depth. 不会游泳就不要到水深没顶的地方去.
(b) (be/become) unable to understand a subject or topic 不能理解
*When they start talking about economics, I'm out of my depth. 他们一谈起经济学, 我就一窍不通了. plumb the depths of sth => plumb.

n
[Date: 1300-1400; Origin: deep]
[C usually singular, U]a) the distance from the top surface of something such as a river or hole to the bottom of it
→deep
　a sea with an average depth of 35 metres
to/at a depth of sth
　The cave descends to a depth of 340 feet.
　Plant the beans at a depth of about six inches.
a metre/foot etc in depth
(=deep)
　a channel of about two feet in depth
b) the distance from the front to the back of an object
　The depth of the shelves is about 35 cm.
[U]
how strong an emotion is or how serious a situation is
depth of
　the depth of public feeling on this issue
　People need to realize the depth of the problem.
[U]a)alsodepths
the quality of having a lot of knowledge, understanding, or experience
depth of knowledge/understanding/experience
　I was impressed by the depth of her knowledge.
　a man of great depth and insight
　She's quiet, but perhaps she has hidden depths .
b) when a lot of details about a subject are provided or considered
　Network news coverage often lacks depth.
　The subject was discussed in great depth .
→in-depth
be out of your depth
a) to be involved in a situation or activity that is too difficult for you to understand or deal with
　I felt completely out of my depth at the meeting.
b)BrE to be in water that is too deep for you to stand in
the depths of sth
when a bad feeling or situation is at its worst level
　She was in the depths of despair .
　The country was recovering from the depths of recession .
the depths of the ocean/countryside/forest etc
the part that is furthest away from people, and most difficult to reach
　Astronomers may one day travel to the depths of space.
the depths of winter
the middle of winter, especially when it is very cold
the depths
literary the deepest parts of the sea