I. də̇ˈpäzə̇t, dēˈ-, usu -ə̇d.+V verb
( deposited -zə̇d.ə̇d, -z(ə̇)tə̇d ; deposited “ ; depositing -zə̇d.iŋ, -z(ə̇)tiŋ ; deposits -zə̇ts)
Etymology: Latin depositus, past participle of deponere to put down, lay aside — more at depone
transitive verb
1.
a. : to place, cache, or entrust especially seriously and carefully (as for safekeeping, pledging or guaranteeing performance, or recording)
until the last voter deposited his ballot — R.M.Lovett
b. : to place in deposit in a bank or similar institution
c. : to set down or place especially carefully or safely or in care or custody
the maid had … deposited a huge decanter on the table — A.N.Whitehead
the adventurous gentlemen … were safely deposited at their inn in London — T.B.Macaulay
deposited in a clean hospital bed — Allen Churchill
a giant wave lifted the tiny craft completely over the beached ship and deposited it still intact, on the other side — All Hands
2. archaic : to lay aside or give up : rid oneself of
3. : to lay down or let fall or drop by a natural process : foster the accretion or accumulation of as a natural deposit
the intervening seasons had deposited a thick layer of refuse over the vacant lot
the wind deposited a film of dust over the furniture
in … hogs fed on copra … the cocoanut oil globules had been deposited by nature in the tissues — V.G.Heiser
intransitive verb
1. : to become precipitated : settle
2. : to make a deposit ; also : to become deposited
the zirconium metal … deposits on the filament — Samuel Glasstone
Synonyms: see set
II. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Latin depositum, from neuter of depositus, past participle
1.
a. : the state of being deposited in trust or safekeeping
b. : the state of being deposited to one's credit in a bank
2. : something placed (as in a bank or in someone's hands) for safekeeping: as
a. : money that is deposited in a bank or with a banker, that is subject to order, and that creates the relationship of creditor and debtor
b. : something given as a pledge or security (as a forfeit)
post a deposit of money as evidence of his good faith — Canadian Citizenship Series
deposits which some librarians require from borrowers … returnable when the depositor ceases to use the library — W.C.B.Sayers
a five-cent deposit on a soda bottle
c. Roman & civil law : a bailment of goods to be kept gratuitously for the bailor and without any benefit to the bailee or depositary — see irregular deposit , necessary deposit , quasi deposit , sequestration , voluntary deposit
d. : a partial and first payment on account of the purchase price of property
3.
[Medieval Latin depositum ]
: a place of deposit : depository
4. : the act of depositing
is to come into force upon the deposit of ratifications with the government — Vera M. Dean
ritual is … a slow deposit , as it were, of people's imaginative insight into life — Susanne K. Langer
5.
a. : something laid, placed, or thrown down ; especially : matter deposited by some natural process
the muddy and sandy deposits at the river's mouth
the walls of the house are … less discolored by the deposit of carbon than usual in most towns — Richard Jefferies
b. : a natural accumulation (as of iron ore, coal, or gas)
deposits of phosphates suitable for agricultural fertilizer were discovered near Oruro — Americana Annual