depot

/ˈdipoʊ/

/ˈdɛpəʊ/

Other forms: depots

A depot is a place where things are stored in large quantities for future use. Your office might have a depot in the back where supplies are stored.

Depot came into English from the French word dépôt, meaning "a deposit, place of deposit." A depot can be a place like a warehouse where items are temporarily deposited, but we also use it for a train or bus station. In this case, think of it as a place where a many passengers are being temporarily housed. Your bus trip might require you to get off one bus at a big depot, and transfer to another.

Definitions of depot

1. noun

   station where transport vehicles load or unload passengers or goods
   synonyms: terminal, terminus

   types:

   air terminal, airport terminal

   a terminal that serves air travelers or air freight

   bus depot, bus station, bus terminal, coach station

   a terminal that serves bus passengers

   cathode

   the positively charged terminal of a voltaic cell or storage battery that supplies current

   railroad station, railroad terminal, railway station, train depot, train station

   terminal where trains load or unload passengers or goods

   subway station

   a terminal where subways load and unload passengers

   flag stop, way station, whistle stop

   a small railway station between the principal stations or a station where the train stops only on a signal

   type of:

   station

   a facility equipped with special equipment and personnel for a particular purpose
2. noun

   a depository for goods
   synonyms: entrepot, storage, store, storehouse

   types:

   dump

   a place where supplies can be stored

   garner, granary

   a storehouse for threshed grain or animal feed

   magazine, powder magazine, powder store

   a storehouse (as a compartment on a warship) where weapons and ammunition are stored

   railhead

   a railroad depot in a theater of operations where military supplies are unloaded for distribution

   treasure house

   a storehouse for treasures

   storage warehouse, warehouse

   a storehouse for goods and merchandise

   crib

   a bin or granary for storing grains

   godown

   (in India and Malaysia) a warehouse

   type of:

   deposit, depositary, depository, repository

   a facility where things can be deposited for storage or safekeeping