fathoms

Understands something deeply

Fathoms is the plural of fathom, a unit of measurement equal to six feet, used primarily for measuring water depth.

Sailors and maritime charts still use fathoms: The wreck lies at twelve fathoms.

The verb fathom means to measure depth, but its figurative sense—to understand or comprehend something difficult—is now more common: I can't fathom why she quit.

If something is unfathomable, it's too deep or complex to grasp.

measurement

six

Cardinal after five

feetLower limbs' ends
unitIndividual part or measure
depthDistance below surface

sounding · plumb · gauge · measure · leagues · cable · mark · twain · soundings · survey

depth

abyss

Immeasurably profound depth

chasmDeep, steep-sided gap
trenchLong narrow excavation
gulfPartially enclosed sea

void · deep · bottomless · plunge · sounding · leagues · depths · profound · sunken · submerged

nautical

sounding

Depth measurement technique

plumbExactly vertical or true
leadDense metal, symbol Pb
lineContinuous mark or queue

anchor · mariner · sailor · charts · navigation · ship · voyage · seafaring · knots · maritime

comprehension

understand

Grasp the meaning

comprehendTo fully understand
graspSeize or understand
perceiveBecome conscious of

discern · apprehend · puzzle · grapple · incomprehensible · inscrutable · mysterious · enigmatic · perplexing · unknowable

fathoms

six

abyss

sounding

understand

fathoms

Opposites

Categories

Family