deposition
deposition — noun
1. a document that records the answers a person gives under oath when lawyers quest
a document that records the answers a person gives under oath when lawyers question them about a legal case, prepared outside of court and later offered as proof at a trial.
The lawyer took Ishaan's deposition in a quiet room near the courthouse.
take someone's deposition
During the deposition, Elena was asked about the emails she had received from the company.
The jury never saw the witness, but they listened while her deposition was read aloud.
Brooke's deposition told a very different story from what she had told the police earlier.
A sworn deposition can challenge a witness who changes their account at trial.
文法句型
make / give a deposition
deposition + about + noun
take a deposition (from someone)
用法筆記
Frequently used with the verbs 'take', 'give', and 'make'. A deposition is taken outside of court by one side's lawyer, but the witness answers under oath just as they would in a courtroom. The written document produced is also called a deposition.
常見錯誤
2. the natural process in which loose materials such as sand, soil, or minerals set
the natural process in which loose materials such as sand, soil, or minerals settle out of water or wind and slowly build up in layers, or the layer of material that forms in this way.
Over millions of years, the deposition of sediment created thick layers of sandstone.
deposition of + sediment/soil
The geologist studied the river delta to understand how sediment deposition shapes the coastline.
Layers of volcanic ash show rapid deposition after a major eruption in the region.
The deposition of calcium carbonate in caves forms stalactites over thousands of years.
- sedimentation
nearly identical; more technical, used specifically for particles settling in liquid
- accumulation
broader term; does not imply a natural, layer-forming process
- settling
simple term for particles falling to the bottom of a liquid
- erosion
the process of wearing away material rather than building it up
文法句型
deposition of + noun (sediment/soil/minerals)
sediment / soil / mineral deposition
用法筆記
Common in geology and earth science contexts. Often paired with 'erosion' as the opposing process: erosion wears material away, deposition builds it up. When the focus is on the resulting layer, the word can be countable (e.g., 'a thin deposition of clay').
常見錯誤
3. the act of a substance, object, or material being put or left in a particular pl
the act of a substance, object, or material being put or left in a particular place — for example, wax building up inside a pipe, or dust settling on a surface — or the substance that is left behind in this way.
The deposition of wax inside the old pipes caused the water to flow more slowly.
deposition of + common substance
Each rainstorm added to the deposition of mud along the driveway near the garage.
Calcium deposition inside the kettle left a hard white crust on the heating element.
The constant deposition of dust meant Amihan had to clean the shelves every week.
- build-up
informal; describes the same gradual accumulation process
- accumulation
neutral and broad; less technical than 'deposition'
- deposit
the everyday noun; 'deposition' is more formal or scientific
文法句型
deposition of + noun (dust/wax/calcium)
the deposition + on + surface
用法筆記
Broader than the geology sense (sense 2). This sense covers any situation where matter gradually builds up — in household appliances, on surfaces, or in industrial equipment. Unlike sense 2, it does not specifically imply a natural landscape process.
常見錯誤
4. the act of forcing a ruler, leader, or other important person to leave their pos
the act of forcing a ruler, leader, or other important person to leave their position of power, usually through political or legal action rather than through a normal election or retirement.
The general's deposition was followed by months of political uncertainty in the capital.
someone's deposition
After the king's deposition, a council of elders took charge of running the country.
deposition of + a leader
The constitution allows the deposition of a president found guilty of serious crimes.
News of the dictator's deposition spread through the city within hours.
- ouster
informal American English; common in news headlines
- overthrow
stronger; suggests violent or rebellious action
- removal
neutral and general; less formal than 'deposition'
- dethronement
specifically for a monarch; literary tone
- coronation
the formal ceremony of placing a monarch in power
- inauguration
the formal start of a political leader's term of office
文法句型
the deposition of + noun (king/president/dictator)
someone's deposition
用法筆記
Formal register, typical of political news and historical writing. The related verb is 'depose' (e.g., 'the army deposed the president'). Distinguish from sense 1 (legal statement), where the verb is 'depose' used differently — in law, 'to depose' means to give sworn testimony.