fathom

fath·om  (fm)

n. Abbr. fth. or fm.

A unit of length equal to 6 feet (1.83 meters), used principally in the measurement and specification of marine depths.

tr.v. fath·omed, fath·om·ing, fath·oms

1. To penetrate to the meaning or nature of; comprehend.

2. To determine the depth of; sound.

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[Middle English fathme, from Old English fæthm, outstretched arms; see pet- in Indo-European roots.]

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fathom·a·ble adj.

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fathom

Noun

a unit of length, used in navigation, equal to six feet (1.83 metres)

Verb

to understand by thinking carefully about: I couldn't fathom his intentions [Old English fæthm]

fathomable adj

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Fathom a quantity of wood, six feet square in elevation, 1577.

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	fathom - a linear unit of measurement (equal to 6 feet) for water depth fthm linear measure, linear unit - a unit of measurement of length yard, pace - a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride
	2.	fathom - (mining) a unit of volume (equal to 6 cubic feet) used in measuring bodies of ore fthm mining, excavation - the act of extracting ores or coal etc from the earth capacity measure, capacity unit, cubage unit, cubature unit, cubic content unit, cubic measure, displacement unit, volume unit - a unit of measurement of volume or capacity
Verb	1.	fathom - come to understand penetrate, bottom understand - know and comprehend the nature or meaning of; "She did not understand her husband"; "I understand what she means"
	2.	fathom - measure the depth of (a body of water) with a sounding line sound measure, quantify - express as a number or measure or quantity; "Can you quantify your results?"

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fathom

verb understand, grasp, comprehend, interpret, get to the bottom of

Translations

fathom [ˈfæðəm] n → braza

vt (= unravel) → desentrañar (= understand); explicarse

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fathom [ˈfæðəm] n → brasse f (= 1828 mm)

vt [+ mystery] → sonder, pénétrer

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fathom [ˈfæðəm] n (Naut) → Faden m

vt (also: fathom out) → verstehen

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fathom [ˈfæðəm] n → braccio (= 1828 mm)

vt [+ mystery] → penetrare, sondare