The meaning of Depress

verb

Make (something) active or operative.

Usage examples:

Fumes from cooking are enough to activate the alarm

verb

To cause something to start working

Usage examples:

Something activated the car alarm.

verb

To make something start working or happening

Usage examples:

New customers must call an automated line to activate their card., the move will activate a clause …

verb

Cause (a machine or device) to operate.

Usage examples:

The pendulum actuates an electrical switch

noun

The headgear used to control a horse, consisting of buckled straps to which a bit and reins are attached.

Usage examples:

Grooms came at once to take the bridles

verb

Put a bridle on (a horse).

Usage examples:

Five horses, saddled and bridled, were tied by the reins to branches of trees

verb

Reduce the price of.

Usage examples:

The depreciation of the dollar would cheapen us exports

verb

To make someone or something seem less valuable and less deserving of respect

Usage examples:

What the author hates about forgeries is that they cheapen true art.

verb

Examine (something) in order to determine its accuracy, quality, or condition, or to detect the presence of something.

Usage examples:

Customs officers have the right to check all luggage

noun

An examination to test or ascertain accuracy, quality, or satisfactory condition.

Usage examples:

A campaign calling for regular checks on gas appliances

exclamation

Us spelling of cheque.

noun

A check or restraint on something.

Usage examples:

Plans to introduce tougher curbs on insider dealing

verb

Variant spelling of kerb.

noun

A stone edging to a pavement or raised path.

verb

Make an opening, incision, or wound in (something) with a sharp-edged tool or object.

Usage examples:

He cut his toe on a sharp stone

noun

A stroke or blow given by a sharp-edged implement or by a whip or cane.

Usage examples:

He could skin an animal with a single cut of the knife

verb

Separate with or as if with an instrument

verb

Let air or gas out of (a tyre, balloon, or similar object).

Usage examples:

He deflated one of the tyres

verb

To allow air or gas to escape from within a container

Usage examples:

[ t ] when the roads are icy, you may have to deflate your tires a bit., [ t ] the allegations defl…

verb

When an economy deflates or is deflated, prices fall and there is a reduction in wages and government spending, and low levels of growth

Usage examples:

The chancellor will have to keep rates high and deflate the economy to keep the lid on prices and f…

verb

Cause (someone) to lose confidence or hope.

Usage examples:

The general strike had demoralized the trade unions

verb

To weaken the confidence of someone

Usage examples:

The team was tired and thoroughly demoralized.

verb

Diminish in value over a period of time.

Usage examples:

The latest cars will depreciate heavily in the first year

verb

To cause something to lose value, esp. over time

Usage examples:

Malawi’s currency was rapidly depreciating., the dollar’s depreciation will lead to higher inflatio…

verb

When a company depreciates an asset, such as a piece of equipment, it reduces its value in its accounts over a certain length of time

Usage examples:

Machine tools are typically depreciated over seven years., the government allowed the currency to d…

verb

Reduce or underestimate the worth or importance of.

Usage examples:

I resent the way people seem to devalue my achievement

verb

To reduce the rate at which one currency can be exchanged for another

Usage examples:

It caused a major crisis when the pound was devalued., the banking system was in trouble before the…

verb

Deprive of strength and vigour.

Usage examples:

Technological progress has given enormous power to humanity, but at the cost of devitalizing the sp…

verb

Make or become less.

Usage examples:

The new law is expected to diminish the government's chances

verb

To reduce or be reduced in size or importance

Usage examples:

[ i ] the threat of inflation is diminishing., [ t ] a single-payer system would diminish the burea…

verb

To reduce or be reduced in size, importance, or value

Usage examples:

If consumers start losing confidence, it will diminish demand for household goods., investors can d…

noun

A deduction from the usual cost of something.

Usage examples:

Rail commuters get a discount on season tickets

verb

Deduct an amount from (the usual price of something).

Usage examples:

A product may carry a price which cannot easily be discounted

verb

Cause (someone) to lose confidence or enthusiasm.

Usage examples:

Tedious regulations could discourage investors

verb

To cause someone to feel less confident or less hopeful

Usage examples:

She sometimes got discouraged about her social life, which was going nowhere, she felt., we tried t…

verb

Cause (someone) to lose determination or confidence.

Usage examples:

The farmer was disheartened by the damage to his crops

verb

To make a person lose confidence, hope, and energy

verb

Cause (someone) to lose enthusiasm or hope.

Usage examples:

The army was dispirited by the uncomfortable winter conditions

adverb

Towards or in a lower place or position, especially to or on the ground or another surface.

Usage examples:

She looked down

preposition

From a higher to a lower point of (something).

Usage examples:

Up and down the stairs

adjective

Directed or moving towards a lower place or position.

Usage examples:

The down escalator

phrasal verb

Lower (one's body) as by kneeling

phrasal verb

To start to direct your efforts and attention to something, esp. work

Usage examples:

We’ve got to get down to business, folks, or we’ll never get the newsletter out on time.

phrasal verb

To start to direct your efforts and attention towards something

Usage examples:

The meeting's not due to start for another five minutes but we're all here, so let's get down to bu…

verb

Weaken or damage (something, especially a faculty or function).

Usage examples:

A noisy job could permanently impair their hearing

verb

To damage or weaken something so that it is less effective

Usage examples:

Lack of sleep impaired her ability to think clearly., [ c ] the law bans discrimination against any…

verb

Hinder, restrain, or prevent (an action or process).

Usage examples:

Cold inhibits plant growth

verb

To take an action that makes something less likely to happen, or that discourages someone from doing something

Usage examples:

The merger of the two corporations was not allowed because it would inhibit open competition., some…

verb

To prevent something from developing in the way or at the rate that is possible

Usage examples:

Inhibit competition/growth/innovation authorities fear that fewer, bigger airlines will inhibit com…

noun

A point or level beyond which something does not or may not extend or pass.

Usage examples:

The failure showed the limits of british power

verb

Set or serve as a limit to.

Usage examples:

Try to limit the amount you drink

noun

The greatest amount, number, or level allowed or possible

Usage examples:

There’s a limit to her patience., two cups of coffee are my limit., spending limits were imposed by…

adjective

Less high in position.

Usage examples:

The lower levels of the building

adverb

Denoting an older (and hence usually deeper) part of a stratigraphic division or archaeological deposit or the period in which it was formed or deposited.

Usage examples:

Lower cretaceous

verb

Move (someone or something) in a downward direction.

Usage examples:

He watched the coffin being lowered into the ground

verb

(of a person) control the functioning of (a machine, process, or system).

Usage examples:

The prime minister operates a system of divide and rule

verb

Perform as expected when applied

verb

To work or cause something to work, be in action, or have an effect

Usage examples:

[ t ] how do you operate the remote control unit?, [ i ] changes are being introduced to make the d…

collocation

Put in a horizontal position

phrasal verb

Stop holding something and place it on a surface or the ground.

Usage examples:

Harry put down his cup

phrasal verb

Record something in writing.

Usage examples:

He's putting a few thoughts down on paper

verb

Make smaller or less in amount, degree, or size.

Usage examples:

The need for businesses to reduce costs

verb

Make smaller

verb

To make something less in size, amount, degree, importance, or price

Usage examples:

A low-fat diet can reduce the risk of heart disease., grunn employs 17,900 people, but that number …

verb

Put a limit on; keep under control.

Usage examples:

Some roads may have to be closed at peak times to restrict the number of visitors

verb

To limit someone's actions or movement, or to limit the amount, size, etc., of something

Usage examples:

The government has so sharply restricted his fishing that he can barely pay his crew., the state le…

verb

To limit something, reduce its size, or prevent it from increasing

Usage examples:

If they want to restrict access to their pages, privacy controls are available., restrict the sale/…

verb

Cause to feel sorrow; make unhappy.

Usage examples:

He was greatly saddened by the death of his only son

verb

To make someone sad or unhappy

Usage examples:

It saddened me to learn of your father’s death.

noun

The fluid which circulates in the vascular system of a plant, consisting chiefly of water with dissolved sugars and mineral salts.

Usage examples:

Create a living smorgasbord that includes plants with berries, foliage, fruit, nectar, nuts, pollen…

verb

Gradually weaken or destroy (a person's strength or power).

Usage examples:

Our energy is being sapped by bureaucrats and politicians

verb

Dig a sap or saps.

Usage examples:

Having sapped up to the glacis of the city ramparts, versaillais troops entered the city

noun

A device by which a flow of liquid or gas from a pipe or container can be controlled.

Usage examples:

She turned the cold tap on

verb

Draw liquid through the tap or spout of (a cask, barrel, or other container).

Usage examples:

Several barrels had been tapped to celebrate old victories

noun

A quick light blow, or the sound of such a blow.

Usage examples:

There was a sharp tap at the door

noun

The short, thick first digit of the human hand, set lower and apart from the other four and opposable to them.

Usage examples:

The most commonly affected digits are the thumb and index finger.

verb

Press, move, or touch (something) with one's thumb.

Usage examples:

As soon as she thumbed the button, the door slid open

noun

The short finger that is at an angle to the other fingers

Usage examples:

How did you cut your thumb?

verb

Make or become weaker in power, resolve, or physical strength.

Usage examples:

Fault lines had weakened and shattered the rocks

verb

To make or become weak or weaker

Usage examples:

[ i ] the country’s economy continues to weaken., [ t ] long exposure to vibration can weaken aircr…

verb

To become or make something or someone become less powerful, successful, effective, etc.

Usage examples:

A series of scandals weakened investor confidence., the plan has divided the country and weakened t…