Printer Friendly
The Free Dictionary
904,291,005 visitors served.
?
Dictionary/
thesaurus
Medical
dictionary
Legal
dictionary
Financial
dictionary
Acronyms
 
Idioms
Encyclopedia
Wikipedia
encyclopedia
?

fathom

   Also found in: Acronyms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia, Hutchinson 0.04 sec.
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.

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

fathom·a·ble adj.

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

Fathom a quantity of wood, six feet square in elevation, 1577.
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.fathom - a linear unit of measurement (equal to 6 feet) for water depth
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
mining, excavation - the act of extracting ores or coal etc from the earth
Verb1.fathom - come to understand
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
measure, quantify - express as a number or measure or quantity; "Can you quantify your results?"

fathom
verb understand, grasp, comprehend, interpret, get to the bottom of
Translations
Spanish fathom [ˈfæðəm] nbraza
vt (= unravel) → desentrañar (= understand); explicarse

French fathom [ˈfæðəm] nbrasse f (= 1828 mm)
vt [+ mystery] → sonder, pénétrer

German fathom [ˈfæðəm] n (Naut) → Faden m
vt (also: fathom out) → verstehen

Italian fathom [ˈfæðəm] nbraccio (= 1828 mm)
vt [+ mystery] → penetrare, sondare

?Page tools
Printer friendly
Cite / link
Email
Feedback
Add definition
? Mentioned in ? References in classic literature
 
If the machinery of the Law could be depended on to fathom every case of suspicion, and to conduct every process of inquiry, with moderate assistance only from the lubricating influences of oil of gold, the events which fill these pages might have claimed their share of the public attention in a Court of Justice.
Oodles and oodles of it, my gentlemen, in cask and chest, in cask and chest, a fathom under the sand.
The mysterious sun-sickness, which the experts of Australia could not fathom, still ripped and tore my tissues.
 
Dictionary/thesaurus browser? ? Full browser
 
 
Dictionary, Thesaurus, and Translations
?

Disclaimer | Privacy policy | Feedback | Copyright © 2008 Farlex, Inc.
All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional. Terms of Use.