depletion

Everyday

1. Depletion is when something gets used up so that there is much less of it left. tree →
2. (formal, science) The steady loss of a natural thing such as water, soil goodness, fish or the ozone layer. tree →

In the lessons

Used in science and geography about resources running low: «ozone depletion», «depletion of fish stocks», «water depletion». In everyday life it can be energy or money going down. It tells the reader an amount keeps getting smaller and may not come back easily.

Examples

• Overfishing led to the depletion of cod in the sea. tree →
• Ozone depletion lets more harmful sunlight reach the ground. tree →
• Planting the same crop every season causes depletion of the soil. tree →
• The long walk caused a depletion of our water supply. tree →
• Scientists measure the depletion of groundwater under farms. tree →
• Battery depletion means your tablet will soon switch off. tree →

Note

Uncountable noun, no «a» in most uses. The verb is «deplete» (deplete, depletes, depleted, depleting); «depleted» = with much used up. Do not confuse with «completion». In maths problems depletion means a starting amount minus what is used: if a tank of 100 litres loses 15 litres a day, after 4 days 40 litres are gone and 60 are left.