depth

Universal Words noun measurement 1 [C,U] the distance from the top or surface to the bottom of sth: What's the depth of the water here? * Water was found at a depth of 30 metres. * They dug down to a depth of two metres. * Many dolphins can dive to depths of 200 metres. * The oil well extended several hundreds of feet in depth. * the depth of a cut / wound / crack 2 [C,U] the distance from the front to the back of sth: The depth of the shelves is 30 centimetres. of feelings 3 [U] the strength and power of feelings: the depth of her love / friendship / anger / fear of knowledge 4 [U] (approving) the quality of knowing or understanding a lot of details about sth; the ability to provide and explain these details: a writer of great wisdom and depth * a job that doesn't require any great depth of knowledge * His ideas lack depth. deepest part 5 [C,usually pl.] the deepest, most extreme or serious part of sth: the depths of the ocean * to live in the depths of the country (= a long way from a town) * in the depths of winter (= when it is coldest) * She was in the depths of despair * He gazed into the depths of her eyes. * Her paintings reveal hidden depths (= unknown and interesting things about her character). of colour 6 [U] the strength of a colour: Strong light will affect the depth of colour of your carpets and curtains. picture / photograph 7 [U] (technical) the quality in a work of art or a photograph which makes it appear not to be flat seealsoDEEP IDIOMS in depth in a detailed and thorough way: I haven't looked at the report in depth yet. * an in-depth study be out of your depth 1 (BrE) to be in water that is too deep to stand in with your head above water: If you can't swim, don't go out of your depth. 2 to be unable to understand sth because it is too difficult; to be a situation that you cannot control: He felt totally out of his depth in his new job. moreatPLUMBv.