fathom

== English == === 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”). === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈfað(ə)m/ (General American) IPA(key): /ˈfæðəm/ (dialectal, obsolete) IPA(key): /ˈfædəm/ Hyphenation: fa‧thom === Noun === fathom (plural fathoms) (chiefly nautical, historical, US) A man's armspan, generally reckoned to be six feet (about 1.8 metres). Later used to measure the depth of water, but now generally replaced by the metre outside American usage. Alternative form: fm (symbol) An internationally standardized version of this unit, the international fathom (= 1.8288 metres = 6 feet). Alternative form: fm (symbol) (nautical, US) A measure of distance to shore: the nearest point to shore at which the water depth is the value quoted. (figuratively) (chiefly in the plural) An unspecified depth. (archaic or obsolete) Depth of insight; mental reach or scope. (obsolete) The act of stretching out one's arms away from the sides of the torso so that they make a straight line perpendicular to the body. Someone or something that is embraced. (figuratively) Control, grasp. ==== Usage notes ==== At sea, the fathom is exclusively a measure of water depth. Therefore, a boat that is 100 fathoms offshore is not 600 feet from the shore, but rather at the nearest point to shore where the water depth is 600 feet. ==== Synonyms ==== (unit of length): stade; toise (some contexts); brace (some contexts); braza, estadio (Spanish contexts); orguia (Greek contexts) ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Translations ==== ==== See also ==== deep six === Verb === fathom (third-person singular simple present fathoms, present participle fathoming, simple past and past participle fathomed) (transitive) (also figurative) To measure the depth of (water); to take a sounding of; to sound. (archaic or obsolete) To encircle (someone or something) with outstretched arms; specifically, to measure the circumference or (rare) length of something. (figurative) Often followed by out: to deeply understand (someone or something); to get to the bottom of. Synonyms: figure out, puzzle out, work out Coordinate term: grok (obsolete) To embrace (someone or something). (intransitive) To measure a depth; to sound. (figurative) To conduct an examination or inquiry; to investigate. ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === References === === Further reading === fathom on Wikipedia.Wikipedia fathom (disambiguation) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia William Dwight Whitney, Benjamin Eli Smith, editors (1895–1910), “fathom”, in The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia: […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., →OCLC. “fathom”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC. “fathom”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.