depression

/di'preʃn/

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Explanation of the Word "Depression"

Definition: The word "depression" can have several meanings depending on the context. Generally, it refers to a state of feeling very sad or hopeless. It can also describe a situation where there is less pressure in the air, leading to weather changes, or a time of economic hardship.

Usage Instructions:

• As a Noun: "Depression" is used to describe both emotional states and economic conditions. You can use it when talking about feelings, as well as when discussing historical events or economic situations.

Advanced Usage:

• Clinical Depression: This term is used to describe a specific diagnosis where someone experiences severe depression that affects their daily life and functioning.
• Economic Depression: This term refers to a prolonged period of economic downturn, characterized by significant declines in income and employment.

Word Variants:

• Depressive (adjective): Relating to or characterized by depression.

  • Example: "She experienced depressive symptoms that made it hard to concentrate."

• Depress (verb): To make someone feel sad or to lower something in position.

  • Example: "The news about the accident depressed him."

Different Meanings:

• Air Pressure: In meteorology, depression refers to a lower area of air pressure that can lead to weather changes, such as rain or snow.
• Physical Concavity: It can refer to a dent or a hollow area in a surface, such as a piece of furniture or the ground.

Synonyms:

• For emotional state: sadness, gloom, melancholy, despondency.
• For economic state: recession, downturn, slump.
• For physical meaning: hollow, dip, indentation.

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• "Down in the dumps": This idiom means feeling sad or depressed.

  • Example: "Ever since he lost his job, he's been down in the dumps."

• "Hit rock bottom": This phrase means to reach the lowest point in one's life, often referring to emotional or financial struggles.

Academic

Noun

1. pushing down
   • depression of the space bar on the typewriter
2. angular distance below the horizon (especially of a celestial object)
3. a concavity in a surface produced by pressing
   • he left the impression of his fingers in the soft mud
4. a state of depression and anhedonia so severe as to require clinical intervention
5. an air mass of lower pressure; often brings precipitation
   • a low moved in over night bringing sleet and snow
6. a period during the 1930s when there was a worldwide economic depression and mass unemployment
7. sad feelings of gloom and inadequacy
8. a sunken or depressed geological formation
9. a long-term economic state characterized by unemployment and low prices and low levels of trade and investment
10. a mental state characterized by a pessimistic sense of inadequacy and a despondent lack of activity

Synonyms

• impression
• imprint
• depressive disorder
• clinical depression
• low
• Depression
• Great Depression
• natural depression
• slump
• economic crisis