depression

de·pres·sion

noun \di-ˈpre-shən, dē-\

Definition of DEPRESSION

1

a : the angular distance of a celestial object below the horizon

b : the size of an angle of depression

2

: an act of depressing or a state of being depressed: as

a : a pressing down : lowering

b (1) : a state of feeling sad : dejection (2) : a psychoneurotic or psychotic disorder marked especially by sadness, inactivity, difficulty in thinking and concentration, a significant increase or decrease in appetite and time spent sleeping, feelings of dejection and hopelessness, and sometimes suicidal tendencies

c (1) : a reduction in activity, amount, quality, or force (2) : a lowering of vitality or functional activity

3

: a depressed place or part : hollow

4

: low 1b

5

: a period of low general economic activity marked especially by rising levels of unemployment

Examples of DEPRESSION

1. She has been undergoing treatment for severe depression.
2. Many people suffer from clinical depression for years before being diagnosed.
3. After several years of an economic boom, it looks as though we may be heading toward a depression.
4. The photographs show depressions in the moon's surface.

First Known Use of DEPRESSION

14th century

Related to DEPRESSION

Synonyms

recession, slump

Antonyms

boom

Related Words

bust, crash, panic; stagnation; downbeat, downdraft, downswing, downtrend, downturn, slowdown

Near Antonyms

development, growth; advancement, progress; rally, recovery

Other Psychology Terms

fetish, hypochondria, intelligence, mania, narcissism, neurosis, pathological, psychosis, schadenfreude, subliminal

Rhymes with DEPRESSION

accession, aggression, bull session, compression, concession, confession, digression, discretion, egression, expression, impression, ingression, jam session, obsession, oppression, precession, procession, profession, progression, recession, refreshen, regression, repression, secession, skull session, succession, suppression, transgression

de·pres·sion

noun \di-ˈpresh-ən\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of DEPRESSION

1

: a displacement downward or inward <depression of the jaw>

2

: an act of depressing or a state of being depressed: as a (1) : a state of feeling sad (2) : a mood disorder marked especially by sadness, inactivity, difficulty with thinking and concentration, a significant increase or decrease in appetite and time spent sleeping, feelings of dejection and hopelessness, and sometimes suicidal thoughts or an attempt to commit suicide b : a reduction in functional activity, amount, quality, or force <depression of autonomic function> <depression of red blood cells>