cryptodepression UK /ˌkɹɪptəʊdɪˈpɹɛʃən/US /ˌkɹiptoʊdəˈpɹɛʃ(ə)n/ noun1 •The portion of a lake which lies below sea level.When the bottom of the lake lies below mean sea level, it is said to occupy a cryptodepression, the depth of which is the depth below sea level of the deepest point of the basin. — 1957 formscryptodepressions