From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishdepthdepth /depθ/ ●●● S3 W3 noun 1 DISTANCE[countable usually singular, uncountable] a) TMDEEPthe 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 metresto/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) TMDEEPthe distance from the front to the back of an object The depth of the shelves is about 35 cm.2 EMOTION/SITUATION[uncountable]EMOTIONAL how strong an emotion is or how serious a situation isdepth of the depth of public feeling on this issue People need to realize the depth of the problem.3 KNOWLEDGE[uncountable] a) (also depths) the quality of having a lot of knowledge, understanding, or experiencedepth 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 depth5 → the depths of something6 → the depths of the ocean/countryside/forest etc7 → the depths of winter8 → the depths
Examples from the Corpus
depth• The drawers have a depth of 16 inches.• The plants need sand with a depth of at least 10 to 15 cm to grow.• The intermediary requires a greater depth in instruction.• The One, without name or form, is the infinite depth, the unlimited ocean of being.• The result has been to produce a society of great institutional depth.• Therefore I felt I could just mention them but not go into depth.• Network news coverage often lacks depth.• Their national team will have a little more depth this year.• There, the themes of depth, impenetrable darkness, water, abandonment, corruption and death are all present at once.• Buckeye Lake reaches depths of eight to ten feet.• They allow us to externalize what we hold in our own subconscious depths.• But this is a play which combines surface brilliance with a surprising depth of feeling.• In summer the gardens would have looked colourful and pretty but somehow in the depths of the Provençal winter they appeared melancholy.• The poll results indicate the depth of public concern about the economy.• The ship's navigational equipment can measure the depth of the water.• The depth of the pond varies with the rainfall.to/at a depth of something• In lakes the rooted forms may appear at a depth of 2 to 3 meters.• Temperatures were measured down to a depth of 5 kilometres, where seasonal fluctuations have no effect.• The yard outside must be flooded to a depth of about three feet.• Drawer decoration Will you please identify this bronze item found at a depth of 4in?• It is found in the shallows in the sea grass meadows, at depths of only 1-6 metres.• To cook quail, pour oil to a depth of at least 1 inch into a heavy-bottomed frying pan or wok.• Pour hottest tap water into the larger baking pan to a depth of 1 inch.• In a saute pan, add water to a depth of l / 4 inch.depth of knowledge/understanding/experience• He talks about them non-stop, rapid-fire, revealing a depth of knowledge that contradicts the simplicity of the subject.• The demands for higher test scores seem to emphasize speed and coverage, not depth of understanding or commitment.• I know of no-one else who has the same depth of knowledge of the subject and who can write with such articulation.• Over-familiarity with a particular area may lead to an assumption that others have the same depth of knowledge.• But the depth of experience on which children can rely when they encounter a new topic varies from one topic to another.• In all cases the depth of knowledge required should be more advanced than that required for Professional Examinations.• But they can not gain the depth of knowledge and analysis required for sound and reasoned decision making.Origin depth (1300-1400) deep 