# deep
## English
### Alternative forms

* deepe (obsolete)

### Etymology

From Middle English depe, deep, dep, deop, from Old English dēop (“deep, profound; awful, mysterious; heinous; serious, solemn, earnest; extreme, great”), from Proto-West Germanic *deup, from Proto-Germanic *deupaz (“deep”), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰewbʰ-nós, from *dʰewbʰ- (“deep”).
Cognate with Scots depe (“deep”), Saterland Frisian djoop (“deep”), West Frisian djip (“deep”), Low German deep (“deep”), Dutch diep (“deep”), German tief (“deep”), Danish dyb (“deep”), Norwegian Bokmål dyp (“deep”), Norwegian Nynorsk and Swedish djup (“deep”), Icelandic djúpur (“deep”), Lithuanian dubùs (“deep, hollow”), Albanian det (“sea”), Welsh dwfn (“deep”).

### Pronunciation

* enPR: dēp, IPA: /diːp/
* Audio (US):(file)
* Audio (General Australian):(file)
* Rhymes: -iːp

### Adjective

deep (comparative deeper or more deep, superlative deepest or most deep)
* (of distance or position; also figurative) Extending, reaching or positioned far from a point of reference, especially downwards.
** Extending far down from the top, or surface, to the bottom, literally or figuratively.
    The lake is extremely deep.
    We hiked into a deep valley between tall mountains.
    There was a deep layer of dust on the floor; the room had not been disturbed for many years.
    In the mid-1970s, the economy went into a deep recession.
    We are in deep trouble.
*** 1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Sixt, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies. […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene i], page 130, column 2:Smooth runnes the Water, where the Brooke is deepe,
*** 1918, W[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter V, in The Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC:Here, in the transept and choir, where the service was being held, one was conscious every moment of an increasing brightness; colours glowing vividly beneath the circular chandeliers, and the rows of small lights on the choristers' desks flashed and sparkled in front of the boys' faces, deep linen collars, and red neckbands.
*** 2013 September 28, Kenan Malik, “London Is Special, but Not That Special”, in New York Times, retrieved 28 September 2013:While Britain’s recession has been deep and unforgiving, in London it has been relatively shallow.
*** 2015 July 11, “Antimicrobial Photoinactivation Using Visible Light Plus Water-Filtered Infrared-A (VIS + wIRA) Alters In Situ Oral Biofilms”, in PLOS ONE‎, →DOI:The differences in biofilm penetration patterns of both tested photosensitisers and the light source could have played an important role for the survival of microorganisms after the application of aPDT. In a recent own study, we showed that the deepest layers of the oral biofilm were not affected by the aPDT [4 ].
** Positioned far from the surface or other reference point, especially down through something or into something.
    Diving down to deep wrecks can be dangerous.
    I can't get the bullet out – it's too deep.
** Far in extent in another (non-downwards, but generally also non-upwards) direction, especially front-to-back.
    The shelves are 30 centimetres deep. — They are deep shelves.
    That cyclist's deep chest allows him to draw more air.
** (in combination) Extending to a level or length equivalent to the stated thing.
    The water was waist-deep.
    There is an arm-deep hole in the wall.
** In a (specified) number of rows or layers.
    a crowd three deep along the funeral procession
** Voluminous.
    to take a deep breath / sigh / drink
*** 1910, Emerson Hough, chapter I, in The Purchase Price: Or The Cause of Compromise, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC:Serene, smiling, enigmatic, she faced him with no fear whatever showing in her dark eyes. […] She put back a truant curl from her forehead where it had sought egress to the world, and looked him full in the face now, drawing a deep breath which caused the round of her bosom to lift the lace at her throat.
** (cricket, baseball, softball) Far from the center of the playing area, near to the boundary of the playing area, either in absolute terms or relative to a point of reference.
    He is fielding at deep mid wicket.
    She hit a ball into deep center field.
** (sports such as soccer, tennis) Penetrating a long way, especially a long way forward.
    a deep volley
    a deep run into the opposition half
** (sports such as soccer, American football, tennis) Positioned back, or downfield, towards one's own goal, or towards or behind one's baseline or similar reference point.
    Our defensive live is too deep. We need to move further up the field.
    She returns serve from a very deep position.
** (anatomy, often with to) Further into the body.
    Antonym: superficial
    the brachialis is deep to the biceps
*** 2018 November 8, Dr. Melina Jampolis, “The real science behind fascia ailments”, in CNN‎:The superficial fascia surrounds the body and includes subcutaneous fat; the deep fascia surrounds the musculoskeletal system; the meningeal fascia surrounds the nervous system; the visceral fascia surrounds body cavities and organs.
* (intellectual, social) Complex, involved.
** Profound, having great meaning or import, but possibly obscure or not obvious.
    That is a deep thought!
** Significant, not superficial, in extent.
    They're in deep discussion.
*** 1977, “How Deep is Your Love”, performed by Bee Gees:And it's me you need to show / How deep is your love?
** Hard to penetrate or comprehend; profound; intricate; obscure.
    a deep subject or plot
*** c. 1840, Thomas De Quincey:
    Why it was that the ancients had no landscape painting, is a question deep almost as the mystery of life, and harder of solution than all the problems of jurisprudence combined.
** Of penetrating or far-reaching intellect; not superficial; thoroughly skilled; sagacious; cunning.
*** c. 1607–1608 (date written), William Shakespeare, [George Wilkins?], The Late, and Much Admired Play, Called Pericles, Prince of Tyre. […], London: […] [William White and Thomas Creede] for Henry Gosson, […], published 1609, →OCLC,:Deepe clearks ſhe dumb's
*** 2009, Jarvis Cocker, “I Never Said I Was Deep”, in Further Complications.:I never said I was deep, but I am profoundly shallow / My lack of knowledge is vast, and my horizons are narrow
** Inner, underlying, true; relating to one’s inner or private being rather than what is visible on the surface.
*** 1850, [Alfred, Lord Tennyson], In Memoriam, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC, Canto XVI, page 26:Or doth she only seem to take ⁠The touch of change in calm or storm; ⁠But knows no more of transient form In her deep self, than some dead lake That holds the shadow of a lark ⁠Hung in the shadow of a heaven?
* (sound, voice) Low in pitch.
    She has a very deep contralto voice.
** 1921, Ben Travers, chapter 5, in A Cuckoo in the Nest, Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, Page & Company, published 1925, →OCLC:The departure was not unduly prolonged. […] Within the door Mrs. Spoker hastily imparted to Mrs. Love a few final sentiments on the subject of Divine Intention in the disposition of buckets; farewells and last commiserations; a deep, guttural instigation to the horse; and the wheels of the waggonette crunched heavily away into obscurity.
* (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.
** 1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter VIII, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC:The day was cool and snappy for August, and the Rise all green with a lavish nature. Now we plunged into a deep shade with the boughs lacing each other overhead, and crossed dainty, rustic bridges over the cold trout-streams, the boards giving back the clatter of our horses' feet: […].
* (sleep) Sound, heavy (describing a state of sleep from which one is not easily awoken).
    He was in a deep sleep.
* Muddy; boggy; sandy; said of roads.
** 1702–1704, Edward [Hyde, 1st] Earl of Clarendon, “(please specify |book=I to XVI)”, in The History of the Rebellion and Civil Wars in England, Begun in the Year 1641. […], Oxford, Oxfordshire: Printed at the [Sheldonian] Theater, published 1707, →OCLC:The ways in that vale were very deep.
* (of time) Distant in the past, ancient.
    deep time
    in the deep past

#### Synonyms

* (of a hole, water, etc):
* (having great meaning): heavy, meaningful, profound
* (thick in a vertical direction): thick
* (voluminous): great, large, voluminous
* (low in pitch): low, low-pitched
* (of a color, dark and highly saturated): bright, rich, vivid
* (of sleep): fast, heavy
* See also Thesaurus:deep

#### Antonyms

* (antonym(s) of “of a hole, water, etc”): shallow
* (antonym(s) of “having great meaning”): frivolous, light, shallow, superficial
* (antonym(s) of “in extent in a direction away from the observer”): shallow
* (antonym(s) of “thick in a vertical direction”): shallow, thin
* (antonym(s) of “voluminous”): shallow, small
* (antonym(s) of “low in pitch”): high, high-pitched, piping
* (antonym(s) of “of a color, dark and highly saturated”): light, pale, desaturated, washed-out
* (antonym(s) of “of sleep”): light

#### Hyponyms

* ankle-deep
* balls-deep
* knee-deep
* lip-deep
* neck-deep
* skin-deep
* waist-deep

#### Derived terms

* a mile wide and an inch deep
* ankle-deep
* balls deep, balls-deep
* between the devil and the deep blue sea
* bone-deep
* deep abscess
* deep adaptation
* deep and meaningful
* deep background
* deep blue
* deep brain stimulation
* deep breathing, deep-breathing
* deep-browed
* deep clean
* deep cleaner
* deep cleaning
* deep color, deep colour
* deep copy, deep-copy
* deep cover
* Deepcut
* deep cut
* deep-dish
* deep dish
* deep-dish pizza
* deep dive, deep-dive
* deep diver
* deep diving
* deep down
* deep draft
* deep-draw, deepdraw
* deep-drawing
* deep drawing
* deep-dye
* deep-dyed
* deep dyspareunia
* deep ecologist
* deep ecology
* Deep Ellum
* deep embedding
* deepen
* deep end
* Deep England
* deepfake
* deep-fat-fried
* deep fat fry, deep-fat-fry
* deep-fat fryer
* deep-felt, deepfelt
* deep femoral artery
* deep focus
* deep freeze, deep-freeze
* deep fried, deep-fried
* deep-frozen
* deep fry, deep-fry
* deep fryer
* deep frying, deep-frying
* deep funk
* deep geological repository
* deep history
* deep house
* deepie
* deep inelastic collision
* deep inside
* deepish
* deepity
* deep-laid
* deep learning
* deep learning speech synthesis
* deep-level
* deep link
* deep linking
* deep-lying
* deep midwicket
* deepmost
* deep mourning
* deep-mouthed
* deepness
* deepnight
* Deep North
* deep petrosal nerve
* deep pile carpet
* deep pocket
* deep-pocketed
* deep pockets
* deep point
* deep rhetoric
* Deep River
* deep-rooted
* deep scattering layer
* deep sea, deep-sea
* deep-sea prawn
* deep-sea spiny eel
* deep-seated
* deep-seeded
* deep-set
* deep six, deep-six
* deep-sky
* deep sleep
* deepsome
* Deep South
* deep space, deep-space
* deep square leg
* deep squat
* deep stack
* deep stacked
* deep stall
* deep state
* deep stick
* deep-submergence vehicle
* deep tech
* deep temporal artery
* deep temporal nerve
* deep thinker
* Deep Throat
* deep throat, deepthroat, deep-throat
* deep-throated
* deep-throater, deepthroater
* deep time
* deep vein thrombosis, deep-vein thrombosis
* deep water, Deep Water, deepwater, Deepwater, deep-water
* deep-water solo
* deep web, deep-web, deep Web, Deep Web
* depth
* dig deep
* elbow-deep
* foredeep
* go deep
* heartdeep
* I'm 14 and this is deep
* in at the deep end
* in deep doo-doo
* in deep shit
* in too deep
* knee-deep in the Big Muddy
* knee-deep, kneedeep
* neck-deep, neck deep, neckdeep
* nondeep
* off the deep end
* overdeep
* roll deep
* run deep
* semideep
* six feet deep
* skin-deep
* still water runs deep, still waters run deep
* superdeep
* take a deep breath
* throw in at the deep end
* ultradeep
* undeep
* waist-deep
* waist-deep in the Big Muddy
* words cut deep

#### Translations

    The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.
    The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.
    The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.
    The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.
    The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

#### See also

* high
* tall
* thick
* wide

### Adverb

deep (comparative more deep or deeper, superlative most deep or deepest)
* 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.
** 1992, Rudolf M[athias] Schuster, The Hepaticae and Anthocerotae of North America: East of the Hundredth Meridian, volume V, Chicago, Ill.: Field Museum of Natural History, →ISBN, page vii:Hepaticology, outside the temperate parts of the Northern Hemisphere, still lies deep in the shadow cast by that ultimate "closet taxonomist," Franz Stephani—a ghost whose shadow falls over us all.
** 2013 September 28, Kenan Malik, “London Is Special, but Not That Special”, in The New York Times‎, retrieved 28 September 2013:It is one of the ironies of capital cities that each acts as a symbol of its nation, and yet few are even remotely representative of it. London has always set itself apart from the rest of Britain — but political, economic and social trends are conspiring to drive that wedge deeper.
* (also deeply) In a profound, not superficial, manner.
    I thought long and deep.
** 1671, John Milton, “The Fourth Book”, in Paradise Regain’d. A Poem. In IV Books. To which is Added, Samson Agonistes, London: […] J[ohn] M[acock] for John Starkey […], →OCLC, page 95, line 324:Deep verſt in books and ſhallow in himſelf,
* (also deeply) In large volume.
    breathe deep, drink deep
** 1711 May, [Alexander Pope], An Essay on Criticism, London: […] W[illiam] Lewis […]; and sold by W[illiam] Taylor […], T[homas] Osborn[e] […], and J[ohn] Graves […], →OCLC, page 14:A little Learning is a dang'rous Thing; / Drink deep, or taſte not the Pierian Spring:
* (sports) Back towards one's own goal, baseline, or similar.
    He's normally a midfield player, but today he's playing deep.

#### Derived terms

* bat deep

#### Translations
### Noun

deep (countable and uncountable, plural deeps)
* (literary, with "the") The deep part of a lake, sea, etc.
    creatures of the deep
* (with "the") The sea, the ocean.
* A deep hole or pit, a water well; an abyss.
** Psalm 42 verse 7:
    Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterfalls: All thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.
* A deep or innermost part of something in general.
** 1850, [Alfred, Lord Tennyson], In Memoriam, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC, Canto XLI, page 64:And what delights can equal those ⁠That stir the spirit’s inner deeps, ⁠When one that loves but knows not, reaps A truth from one that loves and knows?
* (literary, with "the") A silent time; quiet isolation.
    the deep of night
* (rare) A deep shade of colour.
** 2014, William H. Gass, On Being Blue: A Philosophical Inquiry, page 59:For our blues we have the azures and ceruleans, lapis lazulis, the light and dusty, the powder blues, the deeps: royal, sapphire, navy, and marine […]
* (US, rare) The profound part of a problem.
* (cricket) A fielding position near the boundary.
    Russell is a safe pair of hands in the deep.

#### Derived terms

* rapture of the deep

#### Translations
### Related terms

* beauty is only skin deep
* deap sea
* deep background
* deep blue sea
* deep copy
* deep down
* deep drawing
* deep end
* deep fat
* deep freezer
* deep in the money
* deep in thought
* deep kiss
* deep link
* deep out of the money
* deep pockets
* Deep South
* deep space
* deep structure
* deep supporting fire
* deep thinker
* Deep Thought
* Deep Throat
* deep vein thrombosis, DVT
* Deep Web
* deep well
* in too deep
* still waters run deep

### Verb

deep (third-person singular simple present deeps, present participle deeping, simple past and past participle deeped)
* (slang, transitive) To overthink; to treat as being deeper (“more profound, significant”) than in reality.
    ― Ugh, why are these road markings so awfully arranged? ― Quit deeping it bro, just drive, innit.

### See also

* deeps

### References

* Deep on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

### Anagrams

* Peed, peed

## Central Franconian
### Alternative forms

* deef (northern Moselle Franconian; now predominant in Ripuarian)
* dief (southern Moselle Franconian)

### Etymology

Ultimately from Proto-West Germanic *deup. One of several Ripuarian relict words with an unshifted post-vocalic plosive. Compare Aap (“ape”), söke (“to seek”).

### Pronunciation

* IPA: /deːp/

### Adjective

deep (masculine deepe, feminine and plural deepe or deep, comparativer deeper, superlative et deepste)
* (Ripuarian, archaic in many dialects) deep

## Middle English
### Adjective

deep
* Alternative form of depe

### Adverb

deep
* Alternative form of depe

## Plautdietsch
### Etymology

From Middle Low German diep, from Old Saxon diop.

### Adjective

deep
* deep, profound