fathom

5 definitions • 4 examples

a unit for measuring the depth of water, equal to 1.8 metres or 6 feet

to discover the meaning of something:

For years people have been trying to fathom the mysteries of the whale's song.

fathom something out I still haven't fathomed out how to put this bookcase together.

to understand someone or why someone acts as they do:

I can't fathom her at all.

a unit of measurement of the depth of water equal to 6 feet or 1.8 meters

to discover the meaning of something:

I just couldn’t fathom what he was talking about.