depth / dep[unvoicedth]/ • n. 1. the distance from the top or surface of something to its bottom: shallow water of no more than 12 feet in depth. ∎  distance from the nearest to the farthest point of something or from the front to the back: the depth of the wardrobe. ∎  used to specify the distance below the top or surface of something to which someone or something percolates or at which something happens: [in sing.] loosen the soil to a depth of 8 inches. ∎  the apparent existence of three dimensions in a picture, photograph, or other two-dimensional representation; perspective: texture in a picture gives it depth. ∎  lowness of pitch: my voice had not yet acquired husky depths.2. complexity and profundity of thought: the book has unexpected depth. ∎  extensive and detailed study or knowledge: third-year courses typically go into more depth. ∎  intensity of emotion, usually considered as a laudable quality: a man of compassion and depth of feeling. ∎  intensity of color: the wine shows good depth of color.3. (the depths) a point far below the surface: he lifted the manhole cover and peered into the depths beneath. ∎  (also the depth) the worst or lowest part or state: 4 a.m. in the depths of winter | the putrid depths to which morality has sunk. ∎  a time when one's negative feelings are at their most intense: she was in the depths of despair. ∎  a place that is remote and inaccessible: a remote little village somewhere in the depths of Russia.4. Sports the strength of a team in its reserve of substitute players: they have so much depth that they could afford the luxury of breaking in their players slowly.PHRASES: hidden depths usually admirable but previously unnoticed qualities of a person: hidden depths and insights within children. ∎  obscure or secretive aspects of a situation: the hidden depths of marital life.in depth in great detail; comprehensively and thoroughly: research students pursue a specific aspect of a subject in depth. See also in-depth.out of one's depth in water too deep to stand in. ∎ fig. beyond one's knowledge or ability to cope: the Governor is out of his depth, politically adrift.

115. Depth

See also 202. HEIGHTS .

bathometer, bathymeter

Oceanography. a device for ascertaining the depth of water.

bathyclinograph

a device for ascertaining vertical currents in the deeper parts of the sea.

bathymetry

the measurement of the depths of oceans, seas, or other large bodies of water. —bathymetric, bathymetrical. adj.

bathyscaphe, bathyscape, bathyscaph

Oceanography. a small, modified submarine for deep-sea exploration, usually having a spherical observation chamber fixed under a buoyancy chamber.

bathysphere

Oceanography. a spherical diving apparatus from which to study deep-sea life.

bathythermograph

a device that records the temperature of water as a reflex of depth.

benthos

1. the depths or bottom of the sea.

2. organic life that inhabits the bottom of the sea.

benthoscope

an apparatus for surveying the depths or bottom of the sea.

depth
1. of a node in a tree. The length of the unique path from the root of the tree to the node. Thus if a node A is the root node then its depth is zero, otherwise its depth is one greater than that of its parent.

In some texts, depth of a node is synonymous with level of a node.

2. of a tree. The maximum depth of any node in a tree. The depth of a given tree will have the same numerical value as the height of that tree.

depth XIV. prob. based on ME. dĕpnes deepness + -TH 1; cf. MDu. diepde, (also mod.) -te, MLG. dēpede. OE. had dīepe, etc. (:- Gmc. *deupīn-), dēopnes; see DEEP.