Definition of "deep" in English

adjective

1. (of distance or position; also figurative) Extending, reaching or positioned far from a point of reference, especially downwards.

2. (intellectual, social) Complex, involved.

3. (sound, voice) Low in pitch.

   • She has a very deep contralto voice.

4. (of a color or flavour) Highly saturated; rich.

   • That's a very deep shade of blue.
   • The spices impart a deep flavour to the dish.

5. (sleep) Sound, heavy (describing a state of sleep from which one is not easily awoken).

   • He was in a deep sleep.

6. Muddy; boggy; sandy; said of roads.

7. (of time) Distant in the past, ancient.

   • deep time
   • in the deep past

adverb

1. Far, especially far down through something or into something, physically or figuratively.

   • The ogre lived in a cave deep underground.
   • We ventured deep into the forest.
   • His problems lie deep in the subconscious.
   • I am deep in debt.

2. (also deeply) In a profound, not superficial, manner.

   • I thought long and deep.
   • deep-laid

3. (also deeply) In large volume.

   • breathe deep, drink deep

4. (sports) Back towards one's own goal, baseline, or similar.

   • He's normally a midfield player, but today he's playing deep.

noun

1. (literary, with "the") The deep part of a lake, sea, etc.

   • creatures of the deep

2. (with "the") The sea, the ocean.

3. A deep hole or pit, a water well; an abyss.

4. A deep or innermost part of something in general.

5. (literary, with "the") A silent time; quiet isolation.

   • the deep of night

6. (rare) A deep shade of colour.

7. (US, rare) The profound part of a problem.

8. (cricket) A fielding position near the boundary.

   • Russell is a safe pair of hands in the deep.

verb

1. (slang, MLE, transitive) To overthink; to treat as being deeper (“more profound, significant”) than in reality.