depression

plural depressions

1. uncountableusuallyhuman sciencesA state of mind producing serious, long-term lowering of enjoyment of life or inability to visualize a happy future; any of several mental disorders with this state of mind as a central feature.

   I used to suffer from depression, but now I'm mostly content with my life.

   1 more example

   It is that Mr. Levi's death could not be dissociated from the major depression with which he was afflicted, and that indeed his suicide proceeded directly from that illness.

   1988 December 19, William Styron, “Why Primo Levi Need Not Have Died”, in The New York Times, →ISSN

   Synonyms: despondency, hopelessness, misery, blueness, tristesse, mirthlessness, blues, crestfallenness

2. countablehuman sciencesA period of low morale or unhappiness (a period of experiencing the above-mentioned state of mind) which lasts longer than several weeks and may include ideation of self-inflicted injury or suicide.

   Many alcoholics who die from suicide suffer from deep depressions that are quite frequently protracted,[…]

   2016 January 14, Danuta Wasserman, Suicide: An unnecessary death, Oxford University Press, →ISBN

   2 more examples

   […] your illness reflects the textbook description of bipolar disorder (euphoric, grandiose, manic highs followed by deep depressions,[…]

   2011 February 28, David J. Miklowitz, The Bipolar Disorder Survival Guide, Second Edition: What You and Your Family Need to Know, Guilford Press, →ISBN, page 106

   His first major breakdown occurred when his son was five years old; he continued to go to pieces periodically, with a particularly deep depression that lasted from the time Bill was in sixth grade until the time he finished junior high[…]

   2014 September 16, Andrew Solomon, The Noonday Demon: An Atlas Of Depression, Simon and Schuster, →ISBN, page 73

3. countableuncountablegeographyAn area that is lower in topography than its surroundings.

   These large [mazes] led to smaller ones which were constructed to hold in the hand, usually in the form of a circular tray. In these a marble was contained which had to be manipulated to roll into a depression in the centre.

   1971, Gwen White, Antique Toys And Their Background, page 151

   1 more example

   It was not far from the house; but the ground sank into a depression there, and the ridge of it behind shut out everything except just the roof of the tallest hayrick. As one sat on the sward behind the elm, with the back turned on the rick and nothing in front but the tall elms and the oaks in the other hedge, it was quite easy to fancy it the verge of the prairie with the backwoods close by.

   1879, R[ichard] J[efferies], chapter 1, in The Amateur Poacher, London: Smith, Elder, & Co., […], →OCLC

4. countableuncountableclimatologyAn area of lowered air pressure that generally brings moist weather, sometimes promoting hurricanes and tornadoes.
5. countableuncountableeconomicsA period of major economic contraction.

   Antonyms: boom

   1. countableuncountableeconomicsFour consecutive quarters of negative, real GDP growth (for example, this operational definition is used by the US NBER and many other writers).

      The Great Depression was the worst financial event in US history.

      Antonyms: boom

6. countableuncountableThe act of lowering or pressing something down.

   Depression of the lever starts the machine.

7. countableuncountablebiologyA lowering, in particular a reduction in a particular biological variable or the function of an organ, in contrast to elevation.

1. Synonym of Great Depression.

   Synonyms: Great Depression