deepen

[[t]di͟ːpən[/t]]

deepens, deepening, deepened

1) V-ERG If a situation or emotion deepens or if something deepens it, it becomes stronger and more intense.

If this is not stopped, the financial crisis will deepen...

If anything, Sloan's uneasiness deepened...

[V n] My marriage was rough, but it deepened my emotions, it made me think about life.

2) VERB If you deepen your knowledge or understanding of a subject, you learn more about it and become more interested in it.

[V n] The course is an exciting opportunity for anyone wishing to deepen their understanding of themselves and other people.

Syn:

extend

3) V-ERG When light or a colour deepens or is deepened, it becomes darker. [LITERARY]

Dusk was deepening as they drove back to the lights of Shillingham...

[V n] This spice is used particularly in poultry feed to deepen the colour of egg yolks.

4) V-ERG When a sound deepens or is deepened, it becomes lower in tone.

Her voice has deepened and coarsened with the years...

[V n] The music room had been made to reflect and deepen sounds.

5) V-ERG When your breathing deepens, or you deepen it, you take more air into your lungs when you breathe.

He heard her breathing deepen...

[V n] When you are ready to finish the exercise, gradually deepen your breathing.

6) VERB If people deepen something, they increase its depth by digging out its lower surface.

[V n] A major project has now begun to deepen the main approach channel to a depth of between 12.5m and 13.0m...

[V n] The tunnels have been widened and deepened.

7) VERB Something such as a river or a sea deepens where the bottom begins to slope downwards.

As we drew nearer to it the water gradually deepened.