/ dɪˈpɒzɪt; NAmE -ˈpɑːz-/ noun , verb
■ noun
MONEY
1.
[ usually sing. ] a ~ (on sth) a sum of money that is given as the first part of a larger payment :
We've put down a 5% deposit on the house.
They normally ask you to pay £100 (as a) deposit.
➡ note at payment
2.
[ usually sing. ] a sum of money that is paid by sb when they rent sth and that is returned to them if they do not lose or damage the thing they are renting :
to pay a deposit
3.
a sum of money that is paid into a bank account :
Deposits can be made at any branch.
OPP withdrawal
4.
(in the British political system) the amount of money that a candidate in an election to Parliament has to pay, and that is returned if he/she gets enough votes :
All the other candidates lost their deposits .
SUBSTANCE
5.
a layer of a substance that has formed naturally underground :
mineral / gold / coal deposits
6.
a layer of a substance that has been left somewhere, especially by a river, flood, etc., or is found at the bottom of a liquid :
The rain left a deposit of mud on the windows.
fatty deposits in the arteries of the heart
■ verb
[ vn ]
PUT DOWN
1.
[+ adv. / prep. ] to put or lay sb/sth down in a particular place :
She deposited a pile of books on my desk.
( informal )
I was whisked off in a taxi and deposited outside the hotel.
LEAVE SUBSTANCE
2.
( especially of a river or a liquid ) to leave a layer of sth on the surface of sth, especially gradually and over a period of time :
Sand was deposited which hardened into sandstone.
MONEY
3.
to put money into a bank account :
Millions were deposited in Swiss bank accounts.
4.
to pay a sum of money as the first part of a larger payment; to pay a sum of money that you will get back if you return in good condition sth that you have rented
PUT IN SAFE PLACE
5.
deposit sth (in sth) | deposit sth (with sb/sth) to put sth valuable or important in a place where it will be safe :
Guests may deposit their valuables in the hotel safe.
••
WORD ORIGIN
late 16th cent. (especially in the phrases in deposit or on deposit ): from Latin depositum (noun), medieval Latin depositare (verb), both from Latin deposit- laid aside, from the verb deponere .