2  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Depression  \De*pres"sion\,  n.  [L.  depressio:  cf  F. 
  d['e]pression.] 
  1.  The  act  of  depressing. 
 
  2.  The  state  of  being  depressed;  a  sinking. 
 
  3.  A  falling  in  of  the  surface;  a  sinking  below  its  true 
  place  a  cavity  or  hollow;  as  roughness  consists  in 
  little  protuberances  and  depressions. 
 
  4.  Humiliation;  abasement,  as  of  pride. 
 
  5.  Dejection;  despondency;  lowness. 
 
  In  a  great  depression  of  spirit.  --Baker. 
 
  6.  Diminution,  as  of  trade  etc.;  inactivity;  dullness. 
 
  7.  (Astron.)  The  angular  distance  of  a  celestial  object  below 
  the  horizon. 
 
  8.  (Math.)  The  operation  of  reducing  to  a  lower  degree;  -- 
  said  of  equations. 
 
  9.  (Surg.)  A  method  of  operating  for  cataract;  couching.  See 
  {Couch},  v.  t.,  8. 
 
  {Angle  of  depression}  (Geod.),  one  which  a  descending  line 
  makes  with  a  horizontal  plane. 
 
  {Depression  of  the  dewpoint}  (Meteor.),  the  number  of  degrees 
  that  the  dew-point  is  lower  than  the  actual  temperature  of 
  the  atmosphere. 
 
  {Depression  of  the  pole},  its  apparent  sinking,  as  the 
  spectator  goes  toward  the  equator. 
 
  {Depression  of  the  visible  horizon}.  (Astron.)  Same  as  {Dip 
  of  the  horizon},  under  {Dip}. 
 
  Syn:  Abasement;  reduction;  sinking;  fall;  humiliation; 
  dejection;  melancholy. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  depression 
  n  1:  a  mental  state  characterized  by  a  pessimistic  sense  of 
  inadequacy  and  a  despondent  lack  of  activity  [ant:  {elation}] 
  2:  a  long-term  economic  state  characterized  by  unemployment  and 
  low  prices  and  low  levels  of  trade  and  investment  [syn:  {slump}, 
  {economic  crisis}] 
  3:  a  sunken  or  depressed  geological  formation  [syn:  {natural 
  depression}]  [ant:  {natural  elevation}] 
  4:  sad  feelings  of  gloom  and  inadequacy 
  5:  an  air  mass  of  lower  pressure;  often  brings  precipitation; 
  "a  low  moved  in  over  night  bringing  sleet  and  snow"  [syn: 
  {low},  {low  pressure}] 
  6:  a  state  of  depression  and  anhedonia  so  severe  as  to  require 
  clinical  intervention  [syn:  {depressive  disorder},  {clinical 
  depression}] 
  7:  a  concavity  in  a  surface  produced  by  pressing;  "he  left  the 
  impression  of  his  fingers  in  the  soft  mud"  [syn:  {impression}, 
  {imprint}] 
  8:  angular  distance  below  the  horizon  (especially  of  a 
  celestial  object) 
  9:  pushing  down  "depression  of  the  space  bar  on  the 
  typewriter" 

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