abyssal

2 definitions found

abyssal - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Abyssal \A*byss"al\, a. [Cf. Abysmal.]
     Belonging to, or resembling, an abyss; unfathomable.
     [1913 Webster]
  
     Abyssal zone (Phys. Geog.), one of the belts or zones into
        which Sir E. Forbes divides the bottom of the sea in
        describing its plants, animals, etc. It is the one
        furthest from the shore, embracing all beyond one hundred
        fathoms deep. Hence, abyssal animals, plants, etc.
        [1913 Webster]

abyssal - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  abyssal
      adj 1: relating to ocean depths from 2000 to 5000 meters
      2: resembling an abyss in depth; so deep as to be unmeasurable;
         "the abyssal depths of the ocean" [syn: abysmal, abyssal,
         unfathomable]