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Fathom: meaning, definitions and examples

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fathom

 

[ หˆfรฆรฐ.ษ™m ]

Verb / Noun
Context #1 | Verb

understanding depth

To fathom something means to understand it thoroughly or to grasp its meaning. It often implies a deep comprehension of a complex idea or emotional state.

Synonyms

comprehend, figure out, grasp, understand

Examples of usage

  • I can't quite fathom why she made that decision.
  • He tried to fathom the intricacies of quantum mechanics.
  • It's hard to fathom the depth of his sorrow.
Context #2 | Noun

measurement depth

A fathom is a unit of length used to measure the depth of water. One fathom is equal to six feet.

Synonyms

depth, measure

Examples of usage

  • The diver descended to a depth of thirty fathoms.
  • The soundings showed that the ship was in waters of ten fathoms deep.
  • Fathoms are commonly used in nautical navigation.

Translations

Translations of the word "fathom" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น braรงada

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เค—เคนเคฐเคพเคˆ เคฎเฅ‡เค‚ เคฎเคพเคชเคจเคพ

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Fathom

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ ukuran

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ั„ะฐะดะพะผ

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ fathom

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ใƒ•ใ‚กathom

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท fathom

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ fathom

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท fathom

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ํŒจ๋ค

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ูุงุซูˆู…

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ fathom

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ fathom

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ๅฏป fathom

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ fathom

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ fathom

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ั„ะฐะดะพะผ

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒคแƒแƒ—แƒแƒ›แƒ˜

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ fathom

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ fathom

Etymology

The word 'fathom' has its origins in the Old English term 'fรฆรฐm', which means 'to embrace' or 'to encircle'. Historically, it referred to the span of a person's outstretched arms, which was used as a rough measure of length. This original meaning is retained in the nautical sense, where a fathom is defined as the distance between the tips of a person's outstretched arms, and later became standardized to six feet. The word evolved over the centuries to also denote an understanding of complex or profound concepts, aligning with the idea of 'embracing' a knowledge or comprehension. Its dual usage in both physical measurement and metaphorical understanding showcases the richness of the English language and its adaptability.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #15,540, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.