deep

deep

I

deep¹ S2 W1 /diːp/ adjective (comparative deeper, superlative deepest)1.  GOING FAR DOWN
  a. going far down from the top or from the surface
   OPP  shallow:
    The castle is on an island surrounded by a deep lake.
    The swimming pool has a deep end and a shallow end for kids.
    We’ll take the boat out into deep water where we can dive.
    a deep narrow valley
  b. you use deep to say what distance something goes down from the top or surface
    2 metres/6 feet etc deep
    Dig a hole around 12 inches deep.
    ankle-deep/waist-deep etc
    In places, the snow was waist-deep (=deep enough to reach a person’s waist). ⇨ knee-deep
2.  GOING FAR IN going far in from the outside or from the front edge of something:
    a deep wound
    She was sitting in a deep leather chair.
3.  SERIOUS serious or severe:
    Despite the peace process, there are deep divisions in the community.
    The country is in a deep recession.
    Evan would be in deep trouble if he was caught.
4.  BREATH a deep breath or sigh is one in which you breathe a lot of air in or out:
    She stopped and took a deep breath.
    Tom gave a deep sigh of relief.
5.  FEELING/BELIEF a deep feeling, belief etc is very strong and sincere
   SYN  profound:
    May I express my deepest sympathy.
    The letters show her deep affection for him.
    He has a deep understanding of the environment.
6.  SOUND a deep sound is very low:
    Her laugh was deep and loud.
    I love that deep bass line.
7.  COLOUR a deep colour is dark and strong
   OPP  light, pale:
    She gazed at him with wide deep blue eyes.
    The berries are a deep red colour.
8.  DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND important but complicated or difficult to understand:
    These problems are too deep for me.
    There is a deep issue of principle involved.
9.  SLEEP if someone is in a deep sleep, it is difficult to wake them:
    He lay down and fell into a deep sleep.
10. deep in thought/conversation etc thinking so hard or paying attention to something so much that you do not notice anything else that is happening around you
11. deep in debt owing a lot of money
12. a deep impression a strong effect or influence that remains for a long time:
    What he said made a deep impression on me.
13.  PERSON a deep person is serious and intelligent, but is hard to know well:
    Henry has always been a deep one. He keeps his views to himself.
14. be in deep shit spoken not polite to be in a bad situation because of something you have done
15. be in deep water to be in trouble or in a difficult or serious situation:
    The company is in deep water over their refusal to reduce prices.
16.  BALL GAMES a deep ball is hit, thrown, or kicked to a far part of the sports field
17. jump/be thrown in at the deep end to choose to do or be made to do a very difficult job without having prepared for it:
    She decided to jump in at the deep end, buy a farm, and teach herself.
18. go off at the deep end informal to become angry suddenly and violently, usually when there is not a good reason
     

THESAURUS

■ voices/sounds that are not high
   ▪ low a low voice or sound is not high on the scale of musical sounds: I can’t sing the low notes. | He’s got quite a low singing voice. | Boys’ voices usually become much lower as they get older.
   ▪ deep a deep voice or sound is low, strong, and pleasant: He has a lovely deep voice. | The engine has a wonderfully deep sound to it, like it’s ready to race.
   ▪ husky a husky voice is deep, quiet, and rough-sounding, especially in a way that is attractive: Monroe sang 'Happy Birthday, Mr President’ in a slow husky voice. | His voice dropped to a husky whisper.
   ▪ gravelly a gravelly voice is very low and rough sounding: The singer is famous for his gravelly voice.

II

deep² W3 adverb
1. [always + adverb/preposition] a long way into or below the surface of something:
    Some bones were hidden deep beneath the ground.
    The tunnel led deep under the mountains.
    We were deep in a tropical rainforest (=far from the edge of the forest).
    Tom stared deep into her eyes.
    They talked deep into the night (=very late).
2. deep down
  a. if you know or feel something deep down, you secretly know or feel it even though you do not admit it:
    He knew, deep down, that he would have to apologise.
  b. if someone is good, evil etc deep down, that is what they are really like even though they usually hide it:
    Deep down, she is a caring person.
3. two/three etc deep if things or people are two deep, three deep etc, there are two, three etc rows or layers of things or people:
    People were standing four deep at the bar.
4. run/go deep if a feeling such as hatred or anger runs deep in someone, they feel it very strongly, especially because of something that has happened in the past:
    The prejudice runs deep and we need to understand the fears behind it.
5. be in (too) deep informal to be very involved in a situation, especially so that it causes you problems
⇨ still waters run deep at still²(5)

III

deep³ nounthe deep literary the sea
     

THESAURUS

■ dark colours
   ▪ dark used about a colour that is strong and fairly close to black: a dark blue suit | His eyes are dark brown.
   ▪ deep fairly dark – often used when you think this colour looks attractive: His eyes were a beautiful deep blue. | deep red lips
   ▪ rich used about a colour that is fairly dark in a way that gives a pleasant feeling of warmth: The walls were painted a rich red colour.