This is a sum of money given to bind the sale of real estate, or a sum of money given to ensure payment or an advance of funds in the processing of a loan.
Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary
deposit (verb)transitive verb
1.
to place especially for safekeeping or as a pledge , especially to put in a bank
2.
a) to lay down - place
intransitive verb
b) to let fall (as sediment) to become - deposited
1.
the state of being - deposited
2.
something placed for safekeeping as
a) money deposited in a bank
b) money given as a pledge or down payment
3.
a place of deposit - depository
4.
an act of - depositing
5.
a) something laid down , especially matter deposited by a natural process
b) a natural accumulation (as of iron ore, coal, or gas)
Merriam-Webster Online Thesaurus
deposit (noun)1.
matter that settles to the bottom of a body of liquid
SYNONYMS:
deposition, dregs, grounds, precipitate, sediment, settlingsRELATED WORDS:
lees; ooze, silt, sludge; dross, slag, waste2.
a collection of things kept available for future use or need
SYNONYMS:
cache, deposit, hoard, reserveRELATED WORDS:
budget, fund, nest egg; armory, arsenal, bank, pool, reservoir, stock, stockpile, supply; accumulation, assemblage, collection, gathering3.
a sum of money set aside for a particular purpose
SYNONYMS:
account, budget, deposit, kitty, nest egg, poolRELATED WORDS:
chest, coffer(s); assets, savings, savings account; bankroll, cache, collection, cushion, hoard, pocketbook, reserve, treasure; petty cash, pin money, pocket money, spending money1.
to put in an account
SYNONYMS:
bankRELATED WORDS:
cache, hoard, lay away, reserve, salt away, save, squirrel (away), stash, store, stow; investNEAR ANTONYMS:
remove, take out; disburse, expend, give, lay out, pay, spend2.
to arrange something in a certain spot or position
SYNONYMS:
depose, deposit, dispose, emplace, fix, lay, position, put, set, set up, situate, stickRELATED WORDS:
move, rearrange, reorder, shift; orient; establish, locate, plant, settle; clap, flop, plank, plop, plump, plunk ( plonk), plunk down, slap; ensconce, niche; assemble, collect; carry; berth, park; affix, anchor, lock, lodge, wedge; array, lay out, line up, queue, rank; set downNEAR ANTONYMS:
relocate, remove, take; banish; dislodge, displace, replace, supersede, supplant