depth
noun uk/depθ/ us/depθ/
(DISTANCE DOWN)
B1 [ C or U ]深度
the distance down either from the top of something to the bottom, or to a distance below the top surface of something
the depth of a lake/pond 湖泊／池塘的深度
There are very few fish at depths (= distances below the surface) below 3,000 metres. 水下3000米处很少有鱼类。
The river froze to a depth of over a metre. 河面冰层厚度超过1米。
the depths [ plural ] literary 海底;深渊
the lowest part of the sea
The ship sank slowly to the depths of the ocean. 那艘船慢慢沉入大洋深处。
These researchers were unafraid of exploring the depths.
Divers plumbed the depths of the ocean.
The sailors were lost to the depths.
Join us on a wondrous journey to the briny depths and see all the remarkable creatures that inhabit it.
- More examples
- Use a garden fork to loosen the soil to a depth of 12 inches.
- Northern elephant seals and Weddell seals can dive to depths of 600-1,250 meters.
- The submarine stayed submerged at a depth of over 45 meters.
- The seals usually dive to a depth of 400 meters where they feed on fish such as Antarctic cod.
- The depth of the children's pool is only 0.85 meters.
(SERIOUSNESS)
B2 [ C or U ]（思维的）深度，深刻;洞察力
the state of having serious qualities or the ability to think seriously about something
Terry lacks depth - he's a very superficial person. 特里的思想缺乏深度——他是个很肤浅的人。
Her writing shows astonishing depth. 她的作品思想深刻，令人惊讶。
Jo has hidden depths (= serious qualities that you do not see immediately). 乔是个深藏不露的人。
in depthB2 深入细致地
in a serious and detailed way
I'd like to look at this question in some depth. 我要深入细致地研究一下这个问题。
These issues are explored in depth in her latest book.
The allegations were examined in depth and none of them was proven to be true.
The election results were discussed in some depth.
We will analyse this topic in greater depth later in the chapter.
- More examples
- I don't dispute that Lucas' films are entertaining, but they haven't got much depth.
- He's entertaining enough but he lacks a little depth.
- Her later writing showed more depth.
- She may seem fairly frivolous but I suspect she has hidden depths.
- Yet his work rarely shows the depth of his father's oeuvre.
(DISTANCE BACKWARDS)
[ C or U ]纵深;厚度;宽度
the distance from the front to the back of something
Measure the depth of the cupboard/shelf. 量一量橱柜／书架的进深。
(STRENGTH)
C2 [ C or U ]（情感、状态、特性等的）深度，力度，强度
the fact of a feeling, state, or characteristic being strong, extreme, or detailed
He spoke with great depth of feeling. 他饱含深情地发表了讲话。
I was amazed at the depth of her knowledge. 她的渊博学识令我十分惊异。
in the depth(s) of something 处于极为…的消极情绪之中
experiencing an extreme and negative emotion
He was in the depths of despair/depression about losing his job. 他丢了工作深感绝望／沮丧。
He wrote the hymn in the depths of despair after losing his first wife in childbirth.
Alone in prison, he found himself in the depths of despair.
Even in the depth of depression, I knew I loved him.
He went between high spirits and the depths of misery.
处于最艰难的时期
during the worst period of a bad situation
The company was started in the depth of the recession of the 1930s. 该公司创办于20世纪30年代经济最萧条的时期。
It was the depths of the Depression and people were desperate to find work.
He began his career during the depths of the Depression.
Companies have been folding at the fastest pace since the depth of the recession in the early 1990s.
(LOW SOUND)
[ U ]（声音）深沉，低沉
the quality of having a low sound
The depth of his voice makes him sound older than he is. 他嗓音低沉，听起来要比他实际年龄大一些。
(DARKNESS)
[ U ]（尤指颜色的）浓重
the fact of something, especially a colour, having the quality of being dark and strong
I love the depth of colour in her early paintings. 我喜欢她早期油画作品的浓重色彩。
Idioms
in the depth(s) of somewhereidiom 在…的深处
in the middle of somewhere, and a long distance from its edges
a house in the depths of the forest 森林深处的房屋
in the depth(s) of winteridiom 隆冬
in the middle of winter
out of your depthidiom C2 无法驾驭，不能胜任
not having the knowledge, experience, or skills to deal with a particular subject or situation
I was out of my depth in the advanced class, so I moved to the intermediate class. 由于高级班对我来说太难，我转到了中级班。
淹没头顶，没过头顶
in water that is so deep that it goes over your head when you are standing
I'm not a strong swimmer, so I prefer not to go out of my depth. 我不谙水性，所以我不会进入水深超过我身高的区域。