depth S3 W3 / depθ / 名词

1 [可数名词，通常单数，不可数]

a) the distance from the top surface of something such as a river or hole to the bottom of it → deep :

a sea with an average depth of 35 metres

to/at a depth of something

The cave descends to a depth of 340 feet.

Plant the beans at a depth of about six inches.

a metre/foot etc in depth (= deep )

a channel of two feet in depth

b) the distance from the front to the back of an object :

The depth of the shelves is about 35 cm.

2 [不可数名词] how strong an emotion is or how serious a situation is

depth of

the depth of public feeling on this issue

People need to realize the depth of the problem.

3 [不可数名词]

a) ( also depths ) the quality of having a lot of knowledge, understanding, or experience

depth of knowledge/understanding/experience

I was impressed by the depth of her knowledge.

a man of great depth and insight

She’s quiet, but perhaps she has hidden depths .

b) when a lot of details about a subject are provided or considered :

Network news coverage often lacks depth.

The subject was discussed in great depth .

4 be out of your depth

a) to be involved in a situation or activity that is too difficult for you to understand or deal with :

I felt completely out of my depth at the meeting.

b) British English to be in water that is too deep for you to stand in

5 the depths of something when a bad feeling or situation is at its worst level :

She was in the depths of despair .

The country was recovering from the depths of recession .

6 the depths of the ocean/countryside/forest etc the part that is furthest away from people, and most difficult to reach :

Astronomers may one day travel to the depths of space.

7 the depths of winter the middle of winter, especially when it is very cold

8 the depths literary the deepest parts of the sea