What does fathom mean?
Definitions for fathom
ˈfæð əmfath·om
This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word fathom.
Princeton's WordNet
fathom, fthmnoun
a linear unit of measurement (equal to 6 feet) for water depth
fathom, fthmverb
(mining) a unit of volume (equal to 6 cubic feet) used in measuring bodies of ore
penetrate, fathom, bottomverb
come to understand
fathom, soundverb
measure the depth of (a body of water) with a sounding line
Wiktionary
fathomnoun
Grasp, envelopment, control.
fathomnoun
A measure of length corresponding to the outstretched arms, standardised to six feet, now used mainly for measuring depths in seas or oceans.
fathomnoun
Mental reach or scope; penetration; the extent of capacity; depth of thought or contrivance.
fathomverb
To encircle with outstretched arms, especially to take a measurement; to embrace.
fathomverb
To measure the depth of, take a sounding of.
fathomverb
To get to the bottom of; to manage to comprehend (a problem etc.).
I can't for the life of me fathom what this means.
Etymology: From fathome, fadome, from fæþm, fæþme, from faþmaz, from pet-. Cognate with fadem, faem, vadem, vaam, Faden, favn, famn, faðmur.
Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
FATHOMnoun
Etymology: fædm, Saxon.
The extent of this fathom, or distance between the extremity of the fingers of either hand upon expansion, is equal unto the space between the sole of the foot and the crown. Thomas Browne, Vulgar Errours, b. iv. c. 5.
The arms spread cross in a streight line, and measured from the end of the long finger on one hand to that of the other, made a measure equal to the stature, and is named a fathom. William Holder, on Time.
Dive into the bottom of the deep,
Where fathom line could never touch the ground. William Shakespeare, H. IV.Another of his fathom they have none
To lead their business. William Shakespeare, Othello.To Fathomverb
Etymology: from the noun.
Leave, leave to fathom such high points as these;
Nor be ambitious, ere the time, to please. John Dryden, Pers.’Tis too strong for weak heads to try the heights and fathom the depths of his flights. Henry Felton, on the Classicks.
Our depths who fathoms? Alexander Pope.
Wikipedia
Fathom
A fathom is a unit of length in the imperial and the U.S. customary systems equal to 6 feet (1.8288 m), used especially for measuring the depth of water.There are two yards (6 feet) in an imperial fathom. Originally the span of a man's outstretched arms, the size of a fathom has varied slightly depending on whether it was defined as a thousandth of an (Admiralty) nautical mile or as a multiple of the imperial yard. Formerly, the term was used for any of several units of length varying around 5–5 1⁄2 feet (1.5–1.7 m).
Webster Dictionary
Fathomnoun
a measure of length, containing six feet; the space to which a man can extend his arms; -- used chiefly in measuring cables, cordage, and the depth of navigable water by soundings
Fathomnoun
the measure or extant of one's capacity; depth, as of intellect; profundity; reach; penetration
Fathomverb
to encompass with the arms extended or encircling; to measure by throwing the arms about; to span
Fathomverb
the measure by a sounding line; especially, to sound the depth of; to penetrate, measure, and comprehend; to get to the bottom of
Etymology: [OE. fadme, fame, AS. fm fathom, the embracing arms; akin to OS. famos the outstretched arms, D. vadem, vaam, fathom, OHG. fadom, fadum, G. faden fathom, thread, Icel. famr fathom, Sw. famn, Dan. favn; cf. Gr. to spread out, outspread, flat, L. patere to lie open, extend. Cf. Patent, Petal.]
Freebase
Fathom
A fathom = 1.8288 metres, is a unit of length in the imperial and the U.S. customary systems, used especially for measuring the depth of water. There are two yards in an imperial or U.S. fathom. Originally based on the distance between a man's outstretched arms, the size of a fathom has varied slightly depending on whether it was defined as a thousandth of an nautical mile or as a multiple of the imperial yard. Formerly, the term was used for any of several units of length varying around 5–5+¹⁄2 feet. The name derives from the Old English word fæðm, corresponding to the old Frisian word "fadem" meaning embracing arms or a pair of outstretched arms. In Middle English it was fathme. A cable length, based on the length of a ship's cable, has been variously reckoned as equal to 100 or 120 fathoms. At one time, a quarter meant one-fourth of a fathom. Abbreviations: f, fath, fm, fth, fthm.
Chambers 20th Century Dictionary
Fathom
fath′um, n. a nautical measure=6 feet: depth: (Shak.) penetration.—v.t. to try the depth of: to comprehend or get to the bottom of.—adjs. Fath′omable; Fath′omless.—n. Fath′om-line, a sailor's line and lead for taking soundings. [A.S. faethm; Dut. vadem, Ger. faden.]
The Nuttall Encyclopedia
Fathom
a measure of 6 ft. used in taking marine soundings, originally an Anglo-Saxon term for the distance stretched by a man's extended arms; is sometimes used in mining operations.
Dictionary of Nautical Terms
fathom
[Anglo-Saxon, fædm]. The space of both arms extended. A measure of 6 feet, used in the length of cables, rigging, &c., and to divide the lead (or sounding) lines, for showing the depth of water.--To fathom, is to ascertain the depth of water by sounding. To conjecture an intention.
Matched Categories
Numerology
Chaldean Numerology
The numerical value of fathom in Chaldean Numerology is: 2
Pythagorean Numerology
The numerical value of fathom in Pythagorean Numerology is: 9
Examples of fathom in a Sentence
I ’m watching this as their social worker. I can not fathom what they themselves are feeling and what these little boys are feeling.
The reality is the death rate in families is 100 %, everyone is going to die eventually, but our minds just can't fathom that.
They left their homes and left everything behind, they can’t fathom that they’re out of Afghanistan.
As we continue our discussions with Cuba, and in anticipation of Fathom travelers being on equal footing with those who travel by air, we are accepting bookings from all travelers, including Cuba-born individuals, however, if Cuba’s decision is delayed beyond May 1, we will delay the start of our sailings.
The victim is always in the place of accusing someone of something nobody else could fathom that they would ever do, her story just sounds dead on, to me.
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Translations for fathom
From our Multilingual Translation Dictionary
- سبر الغورArabic
- клафтер, фатом, проумявам, разбирамBulgarian
- comprendre, abraçar, braça, sondejarCatalan, Valencian
- porozumět do hloubky, proniknout, sáhCzech
- begribe, favn, fatteDanish
- begreifen, sondieren, ausloten, Klafter, loten, verstehen, ergründen, Faden, umarmenGerman
- sondar, ahondar, profundizar, abrazar, braza, sondear, comprenderSpanish
- süldEstonian
- luodata, käsittää, syli, syleilläFinnish
- favnurFaroese
- comprendre, brasse, saisirFrench
- brazaGalician
- थाह लेनाHindi
- megért, rájön, öl, átölel, kitalálHungarian
- capire, braccio, comprendereItalian
- hiroJapanese
- ჩასწვდება, სწვდებაGeorgian
- aronui, whanganga, mārōMāori
- depaMalay
- vademDutch
- favnNorwegian
- sążeńPolish
- compreender, braça, sondarPortuguese
- măsura, apuca, sonda, fathom, braț, înțelege, pătrunde, îmbrățișaRomanian
- исследовать, морская сажень, разузнавать, фадом, постигать, осознавать, обхватить, понимать, выяснять, делать промер лотом, фатом, измерять, расследоватьRussian
- tr=vyamaSanskrit
- hvat, хватSerbo-Croatian
- siahaSlovak
- objeti, seženj, izmeriti, dognatiSlovene
- famna om, famn, loda, omfamnaSwedish
- ஆழத்தைTamil
- kulaçTurkish
- 捉摸Chinese
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"fathom." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2023. Web. 7 Jun 2023. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/fathom>.
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