deep Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the central and most intense or profound part
    • in the deep of night
    • in the deep of winter
  2. noun a long steep-sided depression in the ocean floor
    trench; oceanic abyss.
  3. noun literary term for an ocean
    • denizens of the deep
  4. adjective relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply
    • a deep breath
    • a deep sigh
    • deep concentration
    • deep emotion
    • a deep trance
    • in a deep sleep
  5. adjective satellite marked by depth of thinking
    • deep thoughts
    • a deep allegory
  6. adjective having great spatial extension or penetration downward or inward from an outer surface or backward or laterally or outward from a center; sometimes used in combination
    • a deep well
    • a deep dive
    • deep water
    • a deep casserole
    • a deep gash
    • deep massage
    • deep pressure receptors in muscles
    • deep shelves
    • a deep closet
    • surrounded by a deep yard
    • hit the ball to deep center field
    • in deep space
    • waist-deep
  7. adjective satellite very distant in time or space
    • deep in the past
    • deep in enemy territory
    • deep in the woods
    • a deep space probe
  8. adjective satellite extreme
    • in deep trouble
    • deep happiness
  9. adjective satellite having or denoting a low vocal or instrumental range
    bass.
    • a deep voice
    • a bass voice is lower than a baritone voice
    • a bass clarinet
  10. adjective satellite strong; intense
    rich.
    • deep purple
    • a rich red
  11. adjective satellite relatively thick from top to bottom
    • deep carpets
    • deep snow
  12. adjective satellite extending relatively far inward
    • a deep border
  13. adjective satellite (of darkness) very intense
    thick.
    • thick night
    • thick darkness
    • a face in deep shadow
    • deep night
  14. adjective satellite large in quantity or size
    • deep cuts in the budget
  15. adjective satellite with head or back bent low
    • a deep bow
  16. adjective satellite of an obscure nature
    cryptical; cryptic; mystifying; inscrutable; mysterious.
    • the new insurance policy is written without cryptic or mysterious terms
    • a deep dark secret
    • the inscrutable workings of Providence
    • in its mysterious past it encompasses all the dim origins of life"- Rachel Carson
    • rituals totally mystifying to visitors from other lands
  17. adjective satellite difficult to penetrate; incomprehensible to one of ordinary understanding or knowledge
    recondite; abstruse.
    • the professor's lectures were so abstruse that students tended to avoid them
    • a deep metaphysical theory
    • some recondite problem in historiography
  18. adjective satellite exhibiting great cunning usually with secrecy
    • deep political machinations
    • a deep plot
  19. adverb to a great depth; far down
    deeply.
    • dived deeply
    • dug deep
  20. adverb to an advanced time
    late.
    • deep into the night
    • talked late into the evening
  21. adverb to a great distance
    • penetrated deep into enemy territory
    • went deep into the woods

WordNet

Deep adjective
Etymology
OE. dep, deop, AS. deóp; akin to D. diep, G. tief, Icel. djpr, Sw. diup, Dan. dyb, Goth. diups; fr. the root of E. dip, dive. See Dip, Dive.
Wordforms
comparative Deeper ; superlative Deepest
Definitions
  1. Extending far below the surface; of great perpendicular dimension (measured from the surface downward, and distinguished from high, which is measured upward); far to the bottom; having a certain depth; as, a deep sea.
    The water where the brook is deep. Shak.
  2. Extending far back from the front or outer part; of great horizontal dimension (measured backward from the front or nearer part, mouth, etc.); as, a deep cave or recess or wound; a gallery ten seats deep; a company of soldiers six files deep.
    Shadowing squadrons deep. Milton.
    Safely in harbor Is the king's ship in the deep nook. Shak.
  3. Low in situation; lying far below the general surface; as, a deep valley.
  4. Hard to penetrate or comprehend; profound; -- opposed to shallow or superficial; intricate; mysterious; not obvious; obscure; as, a deep subject or plot.
    Speculations high or deep. Milton.
    A question deep almost as the mystery of life. De Quincey.
    O Lord, . . . thy thought are very deep. Ps. xcii. 5.
  5. Of penetrating or far-reaching intellect; not superficial; thoroughly skilled; sagacious; cunning.
    Deep clerks she dumbs. Shak.
  6. Profound; thorough; complete; unmixed; intense; heavy; heartfelt; as, deep distress; deep melancholy; deep horror. "Deep despair." Milton. "Deep silence." Milton. "Deep sleep." Gen. ii. 21. "Deeper darkness." >Hoole. "Their deep poverty." 2 Cor. viii. 2.
    An attitude of deep respect. Motley.
  7. Strongly colored; dark; intense; not light or thin; as, deep blue or crimson.
  8. Of low tone; full-toned; not high or sharp; grave; heavy. "The deep thunder." Byron.
    The bass of heaven's deep organ. Milton.
  9. Muddy; boggy; sandy; -- said of roads. Chaucer.
    The ways in that vale were very deep. Clarendon.
Deep adverb
Definitions
  1. To a great depth; with depth; far down; profoundly; deeply.
    Deep-versed in books, and shallow in himself. Milton.
    Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring. Pope.
    ✍ Deep, in its usual adverbial senses, is often prefixed to an adjective; as, deep-chested, deep-cut, deep-seated, deep-toned, deep-voiced, "deep-uddered kine."
Deep noun
Definitions
  1. That which is deep, especially deep water, as the sea or ocean; an abyss; a great depth.
    Courage from the deeps of knowledge springs. Cowley.
    The hollow deep of hell resounded. Milton.
    Blue Neptune storms, the bellowing deeps resound. Pope.
  2. That which is profound, not easily fathomed, or incomprehensible; a moral or spiritual depth or abyss.
    Thy judgments are a great. Ps. xxxvi. 6.
    The deep of night is crept upon our talk. Shak.

Webster 1913