Meaning of FATHOM
| Pronunciation: | | 'fadhum
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 WordNet Dictionary |
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| | Definition: | |
- [n] (mining) a unit of volume (equal to 6 cubic feet) used in measuring bodies of ore
- [n] a linear unit of measurement (equal to 6 feet) for water depth
- [v] measure depths with a sounding line, as of a body of water
- [v] come to understand
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| | Synonyms: | | bottom, fthm, penetrate, sound |
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| | See Also: | | capacity measure, capacity unit, cubage unit, cubature unit, cubic content unit, cubic measure, displacement unit, linear unit, measure, pace, quantify, understand, volume unit, yard | |
| Products Dictionary |
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| | Definition: | | Fathom
Fathom more details ... |
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| Webster's 1913 Dictionary |
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| | Definition: | |
\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.
\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.
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| Easton Bible Dictionary |
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| | Definition: | | (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. |
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| Thesaurus Terms |
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| | Related Terms: | | absorb, answer, appraise, appreciate, apprehend, ascertain, assay, assess, assimilate, be acquainted with, be apprised of, be aware of, be cognizant of, be conscious of, be conversant with, be informed, be with one, bottom, calculate, calibrate, caliper, cast the lead, catch, catch on, check a parameter, clear up, cognize, comprehend, compute, conceive, conceptualize, crack, debug, decipher, decode, delve into, determine, dial, dig, dig into, digest, discern, disentangle, divide, divine, do, dope, dope out, estimate, evaluate, explain, explore, figure out, find out, find the answer, find the solution, follow, gauge, get, get hold of, get right, get the drift, get the idea, get the picture, go into, graduate, grasp, guess, guess right, have, have information about, have it, have it taped, have knowledge of, hit it, indagate, interpret, investigate, ken, know, learn, look into, make a sounding, make out, master, measure, mensurate, mete, meter, open the lock, pace, peer into, penetrate, perceive, pierce, plumb, plumb the depths, plumb-line, poke into, possess, prehend, prize, probe, pry into, psych, psych out, puzzle out, quantify, quantize, rate, ravel, ravel out, read, realize, recognize, resolve, riddle, savvy, search into, search out, see, seize, seize the meaning, sense, sift, size, size up, sling the lead, solve, sort out, sound, span, step, survey, take, take a reading, take in, take soundings, triangulate, understand, undo, unlock, unravel, unriddle, unscramble, untangle, untwist, unweave, valuate, value, weigh, work, work out, wot, wot of |
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