de|pres|sion

de|pres|sion: de|pres|sion «dih PREHSH uhn», noun.

1. the act of pressing down; lowering or sinking: »A rapid depression of the mercury in a barometer usually indicates the approach of a storm.

2. a depressed condition: » The barometer showed a depression. The heavy weight of snow caused a depression of the shed's roof.

3. a low place; hollow: »Rain formed puddles in the depressions in the ground.

4. a) low spirits; sadness or gloominess: » Failure usually brings on a feeling of depression. These warm and sunny days completely cured the boy's depression.
SYNONYM(S): dejection, melancholy. b) Psychology. a mental disorder characterized by prolonged feelings of despair and dejection, often accompanied by fatigue, headaches, and other physical symptoms: »Depression is the most widespread of all psychiatric disorders.

5. a) a lowering of business activity, usually for an extensive period of time, generally affecting national income and much of industrial and agricultural production; dullness of trade: » Many men lost their jobs during the depression of the 1930's. Here were cycles of industrial prosperity which always collapsed into industrial depressions (Edmund Wilson).
b) the Great Depression of 1929 - 1930s: »Depression-era families short on cash but long on dreams (The New York Times).

6. Medicine. a lowering of the vital functions or powers, as by relaxing muscle tissue or depressing activity.

7. Astronomy. the angular distance of a star, planet, or other heavenly body below the horizon.

8. Surveying. the angular distance of an object below the horizontal plane through the point of observation.

9. Meteorology. an area of low barometric pressure; low.

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com|pres|sion|al — «kuhm PREHSH uh nuhl», adjective. having to do with or producing compression: »a compressional force, compressional energy … Useful english dictionary
com|pres|sion — «kuhm PREHSH uhn», noun. 1. the act or process of compressing. 2. compressed condition. 3. the reduction in volume of a gas by the application of pressure, especially: a) (in an internal combustion engine) the reduction in volume of the explosive … Useful english dictionary
ex|pres|sion|al — «ehk SPREHSH uh nuhl», adjective. of or having to do with expression … Useful english dictionary
ex|pres|sion — «ehk SPREHSH uhn», noun. 1. the act of putting into words; expressing: »the expression of an idea. His clear expression of the plan made it easier for us to understand. SYNONYM(S): utterance, statement. 2. a word or group of words used as a unit … Useful english dictionary
im|pres|sion|al — «ihm PREHSH uh nuhl», adjective. 1. of or having to do with an impression or impressions. 2. = impressionable. (Cf. ↑impressionable) … Useful english dictionary
im|pres|sion — «ihm PREHSH uhn», noun. 1. Figurative. a) an effect produced on a person: »Punishment seemed to make little impression on the child. b) an effect produced by any operation or activity: »The rain made little impression on th dry fields. 2.… … Useful english dictionary
op|pres|sion — «uh PREHSH uhn», noun. 1. the act or fact of oppressing; burdening: »The oppression of the people by the nobles caused the war. 2. the state of being oppressed or burdened: »They fought against oppression. 3. cruel or unjust treatment:… … Useful english dictionary
re|pres|sion — «rih PREHSH uhn», noun. 1. the act of repressing: »The repression of a laugh made him choke. Fourteen months of military repression…plainly had failed (Newsweek). 2. the condition of being repressed: »Repression by her strict parents only made… … Useful english dictionary
sup|pres|sion — «suh PREHSH uhn», noun. 1. the act of putting down by force or authority; putting an end to: »Soldiers were used in the suppression of the revolt. 2. the act of keeping in; holding back: »the suppression of a childish, silly fear. The suppression … Useful english dictionary
ex|pres´sion|less|ness — ex|pres|sion|less «ehk SPREHSH uhn lihs», adjective. without expression: »an expressionless face, an expressionless voice. –ex|pres´sion|less|ly, adverb. –ex|pres´sion|less|ness, noun … Useful english dictionary

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de|pres|sion

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