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Definition of deep adjective from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

deep

adjective
 
/diːp/
 
/diːp/
(comparative deeper, superlative deepest)
Word Family
  • deep adjective adverb
  • deeply adverb
  • deepen verb
  • depth noun
Idioms
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    top to bottom

  1. having a large distance from the top or surface to the bottom
    • a deep hole/well/river
    • deep water/snow
    • The water looks quite deep there.
    • Around the world, the deep oceans are heating.
    • Sunflowers have deep roots.
    • (figurative) The custom has deep roots in the community.
    opposite shallow
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs
    • be
    • look
    adverb
    • extremely
    • fairly
    • very
    See full entry
  2. front to back

  3. having a large distance from the front edge to the furthest point inside
    • a deep cut/wound
    • deep space
    opposite shallow
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs
    • be
    • look
    adverb
    • extremely
    • fairly
    • very
    See full entry
  4. measurement

  5. used to describe or ask about the depth of something
    • The water is only a few centimetres deep.
    • How deep is the wound?
  6. -deep

  7. (in adjectives) as far up or down as the point mentioned
    • The water was only waist-deep so I walked ashore.
    • She stood knee-deep in the water.
    • We were walking in ankle-deep water.
  8. (in adjectives) in the number of rows mentioned, one behind the other
    • They were standing three-deep at the bar.
  9. breath/sigh

  10. [usually before noun] taking in or giving out a lot of air
    • She took a deep breath.
    • He gave a deep sigh.
  11. sleep

  12. a person in a deep sleep is difficult to wake
    • She fell into a deep sleep.
    • to be in a deep trance/coma
    opposite light
  13. colours

  14. strong and dark
    • a rich deep red
    opposite pale
    Extra Examples
    • He had a pale face with deep blue eyes.
    • Her lipstick was a deep shade of scarlet.
    • The colour is deeper when the grapes are dried.
    Topics Colours and Shapesb2
  15. sounds

  16. low
    • I heard his deep warm voice filling the room.
    • We heard a deep roar in the distance.
    • He gave a deep groan.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs
    • be
    • sound
    • become
    adverb
    • extremely
    • fairly
    • very
    See full entry
  17. emotions

  18. strongly felt synonym sincere
    • a very deep feeling of love
    • I felt a deep sense of loss when I heard of her death.
    • They expressed deep concern.
    • We extend our deepest sympathies to his family.
    • It was with deep regret that I accepted his resignation.
    • They have a deep respect for tradition.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs
    • be
    • go
    • run
    adverb
    • extremely
    • fairly
    • very
    See full entry
  19. serious

  20. extreme or serious
    • He's in deep trouble.
    • a deep economic recession
    • The affair had exposed deep divisions within the party.
    • a place of great power and of deep significance
  21. knowledge

  22. showing great knowledge or understanding
    • She had reached a deep understanding of the local culture.
    • We will need a deeper analysis of this problem.
  23. difficult to understand

  24. difficult to understand synonym profound
    • This discussion's getting too deep for me.
    • He always sought for a deeper meaning in everything.
    • They spent hours discussing deep philosophical issues.
    Extra Examples
    • None of the insights contained in the book was particularly deep.
    • He pondered, as if over some deep philosophical point.
  25. involved

  26. deep in something fully involved in an activity or a state
    • to be deep in thought/conversation
    • He is often so deep in his books that he forgets to eat.
    • The firm ended up deep in debt.
  27. person

  28. if a person is deep, they hide their real feelings and opinions
    • She's always been a deep one, trusting no one.
    Topics Opinion and argumentc2
  29. in sport

  30. to or from a position far down or across the field
    • a deep ball from Brown
  31. see also depth
    Word OriginOld English dēop (adjective), dīope, dēope (adverb), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch diep and German tief, also to dip.
Idioms
between the devil and the deep blue sea
  1. in a difficult situation where there are two equally unpleasant or unacceptable choices Topics Preferences and decisionsc2
in deep water(s)
  1. (informal) in trouble or difficultyTopics Difficulty and failurec2
in the shit | in deep shit
  1. (taboo, slang) in trouble
    • I'll be in the shit if I don't get this work finished today.
    • You’re in deep shit now.
See deep in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee deep in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
given
adjective
 
 
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