Definition of Fathom
Fathom
fath·om
Definition/Meaning
(verb)
to understand something after a great deal of thought, especially to be able to penetrate a mysterious person or comprehend a difficult problem;
e.g. I could not fathom how they had managed to get through the gates.
(verb)
to measure the depth of some liquid (typically water) using a sounding probe or line;
e.g. The sailor waited until they were sailing smoothly to fathom the ocean at their location.
(noun)
a measure of six feet (1.83 meters) used as a unit of length to describe the depth of the water (may be used as "fathoms", or as "fathom" when quantified with a number);
e.g. The water in the lake is three fathom deep, so we can safely sail our boat on it.
(noun)
capacity to comprehend or understand;
e.g. The theme of the book was beyond his fathom so he struggled to read it.
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