Meaning

• In psychotherapy and psychiatry, a state of mind producing serious, long-term lowering of enjoyment of life or inability to visualize a happy future.

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

• An area that is lower in topography than its surroundings.

• In psychotherapy and psychiatry, a period of unhappiness or low morale which lasts longer than several weeks and may include ideation of self-inflicted injury or suicide.

• An area of lowered air pressure that generally brings moist weather, sometimes promoting hurricanes and tornadoes.

• A period of major economic contraction.

• Four consecutive quarters of negative, real GDP growth. See NBER.

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

• The act of lowering or pressing something down.

  "Depression of the lever starts the machine."

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