depreciation // noun
ACCELERATED DEPRECIATION, ACCRUED DEPRECIATION, ACCUMULATED DEPRECIATION, BOOK DEPRECIATION, RATE OF DEPRECIATION, TAX DEPRECIATION
1 (Economics ) [U; sing.]
a fall in the value of a country's currency, compared to the currencies of other countries:
a 22% depreciation in the South African rand
a sharp depreciation in Brazil's currency, the real
The decline reflects the depreciation of the euro against sterling.
a currency depreciation
OPP APPRECIATION
2 (Accounting ) [U]
a gradual reduction in the value of machinery, a vehicle or other asset over a particular period of time, as stated in a company's accounts:
the calculation of depreciation on business furniture and equipment
a sharp rate of depreciation
to spread the depreciation costs of machinery
⇨ AMORTIZATION
3 [U]
a gradual reduction in the value of sth over a period of time:
the depreciation of house prices