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deep

Syllabification: (deep)
Pronunciation: /dēp/

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Definition of deep

adjective

  • 1extending far down from the top or surface:a deep gorge the lake was deep and cold
  • extending or situated far in or down from the outer edge or surface:a deep alcove deep in the woods
  • [predic.] (after a measurement and in questions) extending a specified distance from the top, surface, or outer edge:the well was 200 feet deep
  • [in combination] as far up or down as a specified point:standing waist-deep in the river
  • [predic.] in a specified number of ranks one behind another: [in combination]:they were standing three-deep at the bar
  • taking in or giving out a lot of air:she took a deep breath
  • Baseball far back in the outfield:his first pitch was hit into deep left field
  • 2very intense or extreme:she was in deep trouble a deep sleep a deep economic recession
  • (of an emotion or feeling) intensely felt:deep disappointment
  • profound or penetrating in awareness or understanding:a deep analysis
  • difficult to understand:this is all getting too deep for me
  • [predic.] (deep in) fully absorbed or involved in (a state or activity):they were deep in their own thoughts
  • (of a person) unpredictable and secretive:that Thomas is a deep one
  • 3(of sound) low in pitch and full in tone; not shrill:a deep, resonant voice
  • 4(of color) dark and intense:a deep pink

noun

(the deep) literary
  • the sea:denizens of the deep
  • (usually deeps) a deep part of the sea:the dark and menacing deeps figurativethe deeps of her imagination

adverb

  • far down or in; deeply:traveling deep into the countryside
  • (in sports) distant from the start of a play or the forward line of one’s team:the defense played deep

Phrases

the deep end

the end of a swimming pool where the water is deepest.

go off (or go in off) the deep end

informal give way immediately to an emotional outburst, especially of anger.
go mad; behave extremely strangely:they looked at me as if I had gone off the deep end

go (or run) deep

(of emotions, beliefs, etc.) be strongly and wholeheartedly felt or held:his passion runs deep

in deep

informal inextricably involved in or committed to a situation:he knew that he was in deep when his things began to proliferate in her apartment

in deep water (or waters)

informal in trouble or difficulty:he landed in deep water when he began the affair

jump (or be thrown) in at the deep end

informal face a difficult problem or undertaking with little experience of it.

Derivatives

deepness

noun

Origin:

Old English dēop (adjective), dīope, dēope (adverb), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch diep and German tief, also to dip

deep in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of deep in the British & World English dictionary

Nearby words

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