I. noun
EXAMPLES FROM CORPUS
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A few minutes later: port, six fathoms and starboard, ten fathoms.
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At the moment I'd guess we're in two to three hundred fathoms.
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Below him, full fathom five; above, infinity.
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From the port side depths of seven fathoms were sounded, but only twelve from the starboard side.
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In Taylor's Level the ground was equally as hard and the rate had been increased there to £9 a fathom .
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She gripped his clothing to hold her up, and plunged fathoms deep, mindless, soaring.
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Where the vein was of considerable thickness it was quite usual to pay the men at so much per cubic fathom .
II. verb
COLLOCATIONS FROM CORPUS
■ ADVERB
how
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Often it is difficult to fathom how these slings are knotted and connected.
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Nor could he fathom how any daughter of his could be, either.
out
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What the locals could not fathom out , however, was the reason behind Pascoe's new-found prosperity.
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Fortunately in trying to fathom out what happened next we have the advantage of the known laws of science.
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He was having enough difficulty understanding his own feelings, without trying to fathom out Carrie's.
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Adam still hadn't fathomed out how he did it all so effortlessly.
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Do not waste valuable height trying to fathom out how to get down in an unsuitable field.
why
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Mark was at a loss to fathom why he resented him so much.
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He couldn't fathom why she was so anxious that no one else should know of his interest in her.
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Robert had not yet been able to fathom why this was the case.
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He couldn't fathom why she'd taken such exception to Eleanor.
■ VERB
try
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None the less, I try to fathom: I read the histories.
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He closed his eyes on the idea of people standing around a grave and this poor woman trying to fathom it all.
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Dalzell looked as if he were trying to fathom her character.
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For years, I tried to fathom the mentality that simply waves off concern about the cost of regulations as irrelevant.
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She watched him for several moments, then looked about the large dining-room, trying to fathom the reason for his actions.
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Sam Fong had stopped dusting the cans and had given up trying to fathom the writing on the crate.
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He was having enough difficulty understanding his own feelings, without trying to fathom out Carrie's.
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Do not waste valuable height trying to fathom out how to get down in an unsuitable field.
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
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The jury had difficulty fathoming the technical details.
EXAMPLES FROM CORPUS
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For years, I tried to fathom the mentality that simply waves off concern about the cost of regulations as irrelevant.
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He closed his eyes on the idea of people standing around a grave and this poor woman trying to fathom it all.
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I can't quite fathom it.
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The 1960s were the years of jaunty self-confidence among economists, and the reasons for this were not difficult to fathom .
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The morning after the funeral, Jean started trying to fathom the mysteries posed by the contents of Brian's wallet.
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The reason for a larger military role in domestic law enforcement is not hard to fathom .
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They have assisted many hon. Members, including myself, in fathoming the difficult procedure.