What does "depress" mean in a physical context?

In a physical context, "depress" primarily means to press down on something. This is often used in various scenarios, such as when discussing the action of pushing down on a lever, button, or any object. When one depresses a button, for example, they are applying pressure in a downward direction, causing that button to engage or react.

The other options relate to different concepts. For instance, drawing together or reducing in size refers to an action that indicates a change in dimension or shape, rather than the direct pressing action emphasized by "depress." The shape or outline of an object mentions its external form rather than the act of applying pressure. Describing a deficiency or lack pertains to a comparative state of quantity or quality, which is not relevant to the physical act of pressing down. Thus, the understanding of "depress" focuses on the immediate action of applying downward pressure.