fathom

noun
UK: /ˈfæðəm/
US: /ˈfæðəm/

  1. A unit of length, equal to six feet, used mainly for measuring the depth of water.

    1. The sunken ship is at a depth of 20 fathom.
    2. The treasure was buried many fathoms deep in the ocean, making recovery difficult.

Synonyms

measure understand calculate grasp comprehend
fathom verb

  1. To understand something that is complicated or difficult to understand.

    1. I can't fathom his reason for quitting.
    2. It's hard to fathom why she changed her mind about the new role.

  2. To measure the depth of something, especially water.

    1. We need to fathom the river's depth before crossing.
    2. The divers used sonar to fathom the underwater cave system with great accuracy.

Frequently Asked Questions

The phonetic transcription of "fathom" is /ˈfæðəm/ in British English and /ˈfæðəm/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "fathom": measure, understand, calculate, grasp, comprehend.

Example usage of "fathom": "The sunken ship is at a depth of 20 fathom.". More examples on the page.