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fathom
[fath-uhm]
noun
plural
fathoms ,plural
fathom .a unit of length equal to six feet (1.8 meters): used chiefly in nautical measurements. fath
verb (used with object)
to measure the depth of by means of a sounding line; sound.
to penetrate to the truth of; comprehend; understand.
to fathom someone's motives.
fathom
/ ˈfæðəm /
noun
a unit of length equal to six feet (1.829 metres), used to measure depths of water
mining a unit of volume usually equal to six cubic feet, used in measuring ore bodies
forestry a unit of volume equal to six cubic feet, used for measuring timber
verb
to measure the depth of, esp with a sounding line; sound
to penetrate (a mystery, problem, etc); discover the meaning of
Other Word Forms
- fathomable adjective
- fathomer noun
- unfathomable adjective
- unfathomed adjective
Word History and Origins
Word History and Origins
Origin of fathom1
Example Sentences
Meanwhile, Umar's family and neighbours are still trying to fathom what happened.
This is rocking Britain in a way Americans may struggle to fathom if their frame of reference is U.S. public broadcasting.
He declined, but I couldn’t quite fathom how he was going to get home so late at night.
“It is hard to fathom McKinley’s swing from one end of the imperial spectrum to the other in less than a year,” Mr. Jackson writes.
Before she'd even left the stage, Carlile's phone was blowing up with texts from people "so famous I couldn't fathom it".
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