Adjacent Words

Fathom definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

FATH'OM, n.
1. A measure of length containing six feet, the space to which a man may extend his arms; used chiefly at sea for measuring cables, cordage, and the depth of the sea is sounding by a line and lead.
2. Reach; penetration; depth of thought or contrivance.
FATH'OM, v.t.
1. To encompass with the arms extended or encircling.
2. To reach; to master; to comprehend.
Leave to fathom such high points as these.
3. To reach in depth; to sound; to try the depth.
Our depths who fathoms.
4. To penetrate; to find the bottom or extent. I cannot fathom his design.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: a linear unit of measurement (equal to 6 feet) for water depth [syn: fathom, fthm]
2: (mining) a unit of volume (equal to 6 cubic feet) used in measuring bodies of ore [syn: fathom, fthm] v
1: come to understand [syn: penetrate, fathom, bottom]
2: measure the depth of (a body of water) with a sounding line [syn: fathom, sound]

Merriam Webster's

I. noun Etymology: Middle English fadme, from Old English fæthm outstretched arms, length of the outstretched arms; akin to Old Norse fathmr fathom, Latin pat?re to be open, pandere to spread out, Greek petannynai Date: before 12th century 1. a unit of length equal to six feet (1.83 meters) used especially for measuring the depth of water — sometimes used in the singular when qualified by a number <five fathom deep> 2. comprehension II. verb Date: 1607 intransitive verb 1. probe 2. to take soundings transitive verb 1. to measure by a sounding line 2. to penetrate and come to understand <couldn't fathom the problem> • fathomable adjective

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. & v. --n. (pl. often fathom when prec. by a number) 1 a measure of six feet, esp. used in taking depth soundings. 2 Brit. a quantity of wood six feet square in cross-section. --v.tr. 1 grasp or comprehend (a problem or difficulty). 2 measure the depth of (water) with a sounding-line. Derivatives: fathomable adj. fathomless adj. Etymology: OE fæthm outstretched arms f. Gmc

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Fathom Fath"om, n. [OE. fadme, fa[eth]me, AS. f[ae][eth]m fathom, the embracing arms; akin to OS. fa[eth]mos the outstretched arms, D. vadem, vaam, fathom, OHG. fadom, fadum, G. faden fathom, thread, Icel. fa[eth]mr fathom, Sw. famn, Dan. favn; cf. Gr. ?????????? to spread out, ??????? outspread, flat, L. patere to lie open, extend. Cf. Patent, Petal.] 1. 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. 2. The measure or extant of one's capacity; depth, as of intellect; profundity; reach; penetration. [R.] Another of his fathom they have none To lead their business. --Shak.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Fathom Fath"om, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fathomed; p. pr. & vb. n. Fathoming.] 1. To encompass with the arms extended or encircling; to measure by throwing the arms about; to span. [Obs.] --Purchas. 2. The measure by a sounding line; especially, to sound the depth of; to penetrate, measure, and comprehend; to get to the bottom of. --Dryden. The page of life that was spread out before me seemed dull and commonplace, only because I had not fathomed its deeper import. --Hawthotne.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(fathoms, fathoming fathomed) 1. A fathom is a measurement of 1.8 metres or 6 feet, used when referring to the depth of water. We sailed into the bay and dropped anchor in five fathoms of water. N-COUNT: oft num N 2. If you cannot fathom something, you are unable to understand it, although you think carefully about it. I really couldn't fathom what Steiner was talking about... Jeremy's passive attitude was hard to fathom. VERB: no cont, oft with brd-neg, V wh, V n • Fathom out means the same as fathom. We're trying to fathom out what's going on... I'm having difficulty using my video editing equipment and can't fathom out the various connections. PHRASAL VERB: V P wh, V P n (not pron), also V n P

Easton's Bible Dictionary

(Old A.S. faethm, "bosom," or the outstretched arms), a span of six feet (Acts 27:28). Gr. orguia (from orego, "I stretch"), the distance between the extremities of both arms fully stretched out.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

fath'-um (~orguia): The literal meaning is the length of the outstretched arms, and it was regarded as equal to 4 cubits, or about 6 feet. (Ac 27:28).

See WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

I. n. Six feet, two yards. II. v. a. 1. Sound, try the depth of, measure by a sounding-line. 2. Divine, penetrate, reach, understand, comprehend.

Moby Thesaurus

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