/di presh"euhn/ , n.
1. the act of depressing.
2. the state of being depressed.
3. a depressed or sunken place or part; an area lower than the surrounding surface.
4. sadness; gloom; dejection.
5. Psychiatry. a condition of general emotional dejection and withdrawal; sadness greater and more prolonged than that warranted by any objective reason. Cf. clinical depression .
6. dullness or inactivity, as of trade.
7. Econ. a period during which business, employment, and stock-market values decline severely or remain at a very low level of activity.
8. the Depression . See Great Depression .
9. Pathol. a low state of vital powers or functional activity.
10. Astron. the angular distance of a celestial body below the horizon; negative altitude.
11. Survey. the angle between the line from an observer or instrument to an object below either of them and a horizontal line.
12. Phys. Geog. an area completely or mostly surrounded by higher land, ordinarily having interior drainage and not conforming to the valley of a single stream.
13. Meteorol. an area of low atmospheric pressure.
[ 1350-1400; ME ( depression- (s. of depressio ), LL: a pressing down, equiv. to L depress ( us ) (see DEPRESS) + -ion- -ION ]
Syn. 4. discouragement, despondency.