fathom

C2 Topic:Mathematics & Measurement

US /ˈfæðəm/ UK /ˈfað(ə)m/ See IPA manual

Freq #18276

Meanings

1

noun
(mining) a unit of volume (equal to 6 cubic feet) used in measuring bodies of ore

The sailors measured the depth in fathoms.
2

noun
a linear unit of measurement (equal to 6 feet) for water depth

The sailors measured the depth in fathoms.
3

verb
measure the depth of (a body of water) with a sounding line

The sailors measured the depth in fathoms.
4

verb
come to understand

The sailors measured the depth in fathoms.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · (mining) a unit of volume... fthm

3 verb · measure the depth of (a... sound

4 verb · come to understand penetrate

Word family

Forms unfathomableunfathomed

Derived forms fathomabilityfathomablefathomagefathomerfathometerfathomingfathomlessfathomlesslyfathomlyunfathomunfathomabilityunfathomable

Etymology

From Middle English fathome, fadom, fadme (“unit of length of about six feet; depth of six feet for nautical soundings; (loosely) cubit; ell”) [and other forms], from Old English fæþm, fæþme (“encircling or outstretched arms, bosom, embrace; envelopment; control, grasp, power; fathom (unit of measurement); cubit”) [and other forms], from Proto-West Germanic *faþm (“outstretched arms, embrace; fathom (unit of measurement)”), from Proto-Germanic *faþmaz (“outstretched arms, embrace; fathom (unit of measurement)”), from Proto-Indo-European *pet-, *peth₂- (“to spread out; to fly”). Cognates * A...

Topics

Mathematics & Measurement

External links

# fathom

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** noun, verb
**IPA (US):** /ˈfæðəm/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈfað(ə)m/
**Frequency rank:** 18276

## Meanings
1. (mining) a unit of volume (equal to 6 cubic feet) used in measuring bodies of ore
2. a linear unit of measurement (equal to 6 feet) for water depth
3. measure the depth of (a body of water) with a sounding line
4. come to understand

## Examples
- The sailors measured the depth in fathoms.
- The sailors measured the depth in fathoms.
- The sailors measured the depth in fathoms.
- The sailors measured the depth in fathoms.

## Synonyms
- fthm
- sound
- penetrate

## Derived Forms
- fathomability
- fathomable
- fathomage
- fathomer
- fathometer
- fathoming
- fathomless
- fathomlessly
- fathomly
- unfathom
- unfathomability
- unfathomable

## Etymology
From Middle English fathome, fadom, fadme (“unit of length of about six feet; depth of six feet for nautical soundings; (loosely) cubit; ell”) [and other forms], from Old English fæþm, fæþme (“encircling or outstretched arms, bosom, embrace; envelopment; control, grasp, power; fathom (unit of measurement); cubit”) [and other forms], from Proto-West Germanic *faþm (“outstretched arms, embrace; fathom (unit of measurement)”), from Proto-Germanic *faþmaz (“outstretched arms, embrace; fathom (unit of measurement)”), from Proto-Indo-European *pet-, *peth₂- (“to spread out; to fly”). Cognates * A...

## Topics
- Mathematics & Measurement

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