deep: Meaning and Definition of

deep

Pronunciation: (dēp), [key]
— adj. n., adv., -er, -est, -er, -est.
—adj.
  1. extending far down from the top or surface: a deep well; a deep valley.
  2. extending far in or back from the front or from an edge, surface, opening, etc., considered as the front: a deep shelf.
  3. extending far in width; broad: deep lace; a deep border.
  4. ranging far from the earth and sun: a deep space probe.
  5. having a specified dimension in depth: a tank 8 feet deep.
  6. covered or immersed to a specified depth (often used in combination): standing knee-deep in water.
  7. having a specified width or number of items from front to back (often used in combination): shelves that are 10 inches deep; cars lined up at the entrance gates three-deep.
  8. extending or cutting far down relative to the surface of a given object: The knife made a deep scar in the table.
  9. situated far down, in, or back: deep below the surface; deep in the woods.
  10. reaching or advancing far down: a deep dive.
  11. coming from far down: a deep breath.
  12. made with the body bent or lowered to a considerable degree: a deep bow.
  13. immersed or submerged in or heavily covered with (fol. by in): a road deep in mud.
  14. difficult to penetrate or understand; abstruse: a deep allegory.
  15. not superficial; profound: deep thoughts.
  16. grave or serious: deep disgrace.
  17. heartfelt; sincere: deep affections.
  18. absorbing; engrossing: deep study.
  19. great in measure; intense; extreme: deep sorrow.
  20. sound and heavy; profound: deep sleep.
  21. (of colors) dark and vivid: a deep red.
  22. low in pitch, as sound, a voice, or the like: deep, sonorous tones.
  23. having penetrating intellectual powers: a deep scholar.
  24. profoundly cunning or artful: a deep and crafty scheme.
  25. mysterious; obscure: deep, dark secrets.
  26. immersed or involved; enveloped: a man deep in debt.
  27. absorbed; engrossed: deep in thought.
  28. relatively far from home plate: He hit the ball into deep center field.
  29. belonging to an early stage in the transformational derivation of a sentence; belonging to the deep structure.
    1. to enter upon a course of action with heedless or irresponsible indifference to consequences.
    2. to become emotionally overwrought.
  30. You're a good student, but you'll be in deep water in medical school.
    1. in difficult or serious circumstances; in trouble.
    2. in a situation beyond the range of one's capability or skill:You're a good student, but you'll be in deep water in medical school.
—n.
  1. the deep part of a body of water, esp. an area of the ocean floor having a depth greater than 18,000 ft. (5400 m).
  2. a vast extent, as of space or time.
  3. the part of greatest intensity, as of winter.
  4. any of the unmarked levels, one fathom apart, on a deep-sea lead line. Cf. mark (def. 20).
  5. the sea or ocean: He was laid to rest in the deep.
—adv.
  1. to or at a considerable or specified depth: The boat rode deep in the water.
  2. far on in time: He claimed he could see deep into the future.
  3. profoundly; intensely.
  4. at or to a deep place or position: The outfielders played deep, knowing the batter's reputation as a slugger.
    1. inextricably involved.
    2. having made or committed oneself to make a large financial investment.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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