(in transformational-generative grammar) the underlying semantic or syntactic representation of a sentence, from which the surface structure may be derived.
In deep structure, meaning can also be divided into two categories: contextual meaning and pragmatic meaning.
Most anglers are successful with minnows or jigs fished near deep structure.
British Dictionary definitions for deep structure
deep structure
noun
1.
(generative grammar) a representation of a sentence at a level where logical or grammatical relations are made explicit, before transformational rules have been applied Compare surface structure