fathom
- Noun. (obsolete) Grasp, envelopment, control.
- Noun. (nautical) A measure of length corresponding to the outstretched arms, standardised to six feet, now used mainly for measuring depths in seas or oceans.
- Noun. (context, by extension) Mental reach or scope; penetration; the extent of capacity; depth of thought or contrivance.
- Verb. (transitive, archaic) To encircle with outstretched arms, especially to take a measurement; to embrace.
- Verb. (transitive) To measure the depth of, take a sounding of.
- Verb. (transitive, figuratively) To get to the bottom of; to manage to comprehend (a problem etc.).
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This entry was last updated on RefTopia from its source on 3/20/2012.