Fathom



GRE 蓝宝 Barron

解释

GRE 红宝书

• n.英寻 ( 量水深, 等于8米) ; v.彻底明白, 了解
• ［英］ v. 彻底明白, 了解 ( understand thoroughly)
• ［类］ erudite : fathom / oblivious : neglect ( 博学的[人]彻底了解 / 遗忘的[人]忽视)
• ［记］ fathom 原意为伸展手臂, 引申为伸展手臂后的长度

Webster Collegiate

I. noun

• Etymology: Middle English fadme, from Old English f?thm outstretched arms, length of the outstretched arms; akin to Old Norse fathmr fathom, Latin patēre to be open, pandere to spread out, Greek petannynai
• Date: before 12th century
• 1. a unit of length equal to six feet (1.83 meters) used especially for measuring the depth of water — sometimes used in the singular when qualified by a number<five fathom deep>
• 2. comprehension

II. verb

• Date: 1607
• intransitive verb
  • 1. probe
  • 2. to take soundings
• transitive verb
  • 1. to measure by a sounding line
  • 2. to penetrate and come to understand <couldn't fathom the problem>
• ? fathomable adjective

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