depth

Etymology

From Middle English depthe, from Old English *dīepþ (“depth”), from Proto-Germanic *diupiþō (“depth”), equivalent to deep + -th. Cognate with Scots deepth (“depth”), Saterland Frisian Djüpte (“depth”), West Frisian djipte (“depth”), Dutch diepte (“depth”), Low German Deepde (“depth”), Danish dybde (“depth”), Icelandic dýpt (“depth”), Gothic 𐌳𐌹𐌿𐍀𐌹𐌸𐌰 (diupiþa, “depth”).

noun

1. the vertical distance below a surface; the degree to which something is deep
   Measure the depth of the water in this part of the bay.
2. the distance between the front and the back, as the depth of a drawer or closet
3. (figurative) the intensity, complexity, strength, seriousness or importance of an emotion, situation, etc.
   The depth of her misery was apparent to everyone.
   The depth of the crisis had been exaggerated.
   We were impressed by the depth of her knowledge.
4. lowness
   the depth of a sound
5. (computing, colors) the total palette of available colors
6. (art, photography) the property of appearing three-dimensional
   The depth of field in this picture is amazing.
7. (literary, usually in the plural) the deepest part (usually of a body of water)
   The burning ship finally sunk into the depths.
8. (literary, usually in the plural) a very remote part.
   Into the depths of the jungle...
   In the depths of the night,
9. the most severe part
   in the depth of the crisis
   in the depths of winter
10. (logic) the number of simple elements which an abstract conception or notion includes; the comprehension or content
11. (horology) a pair of toothed wheels which work together
12. (aeronautics) the perpendicular distance from the chord to the farthest point of an arched surface
13. (statistics) the lower of the two ranks of a value in an ordered set of values
14. (cryptography) A set of more than one ciphertext enciphered with the same key.