deposit

noun

• 1a sum of money paid into a bank or building society account: cash funds which are an alternative to bank or building society deposits

• 2a sum payable as a first instalment on the purchase of something or as a pledge for a contract, the balance being payable later:we’ve saved enough for a deposit on a house
• a returnable sum payable on the hire or rental of something, to cover possible loss or damage: a refundable €100 deposit is payable on arrival at the villa
• (in the UK) a sum of money lodged by an election candidate and forfeited if they fail to receive a certain proportion of the votes: he lost his deposit but was credited with contributing to the Conservatives' defeat

• 3a layer or mass of accumulated matter:the deposits of salt on the paintwork
• a natural underground layer of rock, coal, or other material: a great quantity of pottery was found in this deposit [with modifier]:areas of mineral deposits

• 4 [mass noun] the action of placing something in a specified place: the deposit of a thesis in a library gives no guarantee of copyright protection [count noun]:although some people will be withdrawing money, others will be making new deposits

verb (deposits, depositing, deposited)

• 1 [with object and usually with adverbial of place] put or set down (something or someone) in a specific place:he deposited a pile of school books on the kitchen table
• (of water, the wind, or other natural agency) lay down (matter) gradually as a layer or covering:beds where salt is deposited by the tide
• lay (an egg): the female deposits a line of eggs

• 2 [with object] place (something) somewhere for safekeeping:a vault in which guests may deposit valuable property
• pay (a sum of money) into a bank or building society account:the money had been deposited in a Swiss bank account
• pay (a sum) as a first instalment or as a pledge for a contract:I had to deposit 10% of the price of the house