A depot is a place where things are stored or where vehicles are kept and maintained. The word comes from French and is pronounced either “DEE-poh” or “DEH-poh.”

Train stations are often called depots, especially smaller ones where trains stop to pick up passengers and cargo. When you hear about a train depot in an old Western movie, it's that wooden building where townspeople gathered to meet arriving trains. Bus companies also have depots where their buses park overnight, get refueled, and get repaired.

The military uses depots as storage facilities for equipment and supplies. An ammunition depot stores weapons and bullets, while a supply depot might hold food, clothing, and other materials soldiers need. During wartime, protecting supply depots becomes crucial because armies depend on them.

Whether it's a bus depot in your town or a supply depot supporting an expedition, the word carries the idea of a central place where important things are collected, organized, and sent out when needed.