depression Hear it!

depression definition

de·pres·sion (dē pres̸hən, di-)

noun

  1. a depressing or being depressed
  2. a depressed part or place; hollow or low place on a surface
  3. low spirits; gloominess; dejection; sadness
  4. a decrease in force, activity, amount, etc.
  5. Astron. the angular distance of a celestial body below the horizon
  6. Econ. a period marked by slackening of business activity, widespread unemployment, falling prices and wages, etc.
  7. Med. a decrease in functional activity
  8. Meteorol.
    1. a lowering of the atmospheric pressure indicated by the fall of mercury in a barometer
    2. an area of relatively low barometric pressure; low
  9. Psychol. an emotional condition, either neurotic or psychotic, characterized by feelings of hopelessness, inadequacy, etc.
  10. Surveying the angular distance of an object below the horizontal plane

Etymology: ME depressioun < OFr depression < L depressio: see depress

depression Idioms

the (Great) Depression

the period of economic depression which began in 1929 and lasted through most of the 1930s

Comments


Do you have more to add? Sign in to share your linguistic knowledge or observation.

Connect with Facebook