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Fathom vs. Grasp — What's the Difference?

Fathom vs. Grasp — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Fathom and Grasp

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Fathom

A fathom is a unit of length in the imperial and the U.S. customary systems equal to 6 feet (1.8288 m), used especially for measuring the depth of water. The fathom is neither an International Standard (SI) unit, nor an internationally-accepted non-SI unit.

Grasp

A grasp is an act of taking, holding or seizing firmly with (or as if with) the hand. An example of a grasp is the handshake, wherein two people grasp one of each other's like hands.

Fathom

A unit of length equal to 6 feet (1.83 meters), used principally in the measurement and specification of marine depths.

Grasp

To take hold of or seize firmly with the hand, the foot, another body part, or an instrument
The elephant grasped the branch with its trunk.

Fathom

To penetrate to the meaning or nature of; comprehend.
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Grasp

To hold with the arms; embrace.

Fathom

To determine the depth of; sound.

Grasp

To take hold of intellectually; comprehend.

Fathom

Originally, the distance between an adult man's arms stretched out away from the sides of his torso so that they make a straight line perpendicular to his body, measured from the tips of the longest fingers of each hand, generally reckoned to be six feet (about 1.8 metres); subsequently used as a unit for water depth but now generally replaced by the metre.

Grasp

To make a motion of seizing, snatching, or clutching.

Fathom

(figuratively)

Grasp

To show eager and prompt willingness or acceptance
Grasps at any opportunity.

Fathom

An unspecified depth.

Grasp

The act of grasping.

Fathom

Depth of insight; mental reach or scope.

Grasp

A firm hold or grip.

Fathom

(obsolete)

Grasp

An embrace.

Fathom

The act of stretching out one's arms away from the sides of the torso so that they make a straight line perpendicular to the body.

Grasp

The ability or power to seize or attain; reach
Victory in the election was within her grasp.

Fathom

Someone or something that is embraced.

Grasp

Understanding; comprehension
"only a vague intuitive grasp of the meaning of greatness in literature" (Gilbert Highet).

Fathom

(figuratively) Control, grasp.

Grasp

To grip; to take hold, particularly with the hand.

Fathom

(transitive)

Grasp

To understand.
I have never been able to grasp the concept of infinity.

Fathom

To measure the depth of (water); to take a sounding of; to sound.

Grasp

To take advantage of something, to seize, to jump at a chance.

Fathom

To encircle (someone or something) with outstretched arms; specifically, to measure the circumference or (rare) length of something.

Grasp

Grip.

Fathom

(figuratively) Often followed by out: to deeply understand (someone or something); to get to the bottom of.
I can’t for the life of me fathom what this means.

Grasp

Understanding.

Fathom

(obsolete) To embrace (someone or something).

Grasp

That which is accessible; that which is within one's reach or ability.
The goal is within my grasp.

Fathom

(intransitive)

Grasp

To seize and hold by clasping or embracing with the fingers or arms; to catch to take possession of.
Thy hand is made to grasp a palmer's staff.

Fathom

To measure a depth; to sound.

Grasp

To lay hold of with the mind; to become thoroughly acquainted or conversant with; to comprehend.

Fathom

(figuratively) To conduct an examination or inquiry; to investigate.

Grasp

To effect a grasp; to make the motion of grasping; to clutch; to struggle; to strive.
As one that grasped And tugged for life and was by strength subdued.

Fathom

A measure of length, containing six feet; the space to which a man can extend his arms; - used chiefly in measuring cables, cordage, and the depth of navigable water by soundings.

Grasp

A gripe or seizure of the hand; a seizure by embrace, or infolding in the arms.

Fathom

The measure or extant of one's capacity; depth, as of intellect; profundity; reach; penetration.
Another of his fathom they have noneTo lead their business.

Grasp

Reach of the arms; hence, the power of seizing and holding; as, it was beyond his grasp.

Fathom

To encompass with the arms extended or encircling; to measure by throwing the arms about; to span.

Grasp

Forcible possession; hold.
The whole space that's in the tyrant's grasp.

Fathom

To measure by a sounding line; especially, to sound the depth of; to penetrate, measure, and comprehend; to get to the bottom of.
The page of life that was spread out before me seemed dull and commonplace, only because I had not fathomed its deeper import.

Grasp

Wide-reaching power of intellect to comprehend subjects and hold them under survey.
The foremost minds of the next . . . era were not, in power of grasp, equal to their predecessors.

Fathom

A linear unit of measurement (equal to 6 feet) for water depth

Grasp

The handle of a sword or of an oar.

Fathom

(mining) a unit of volume (equal to 6 cubic feet) used in measuring bodies of ore

Grasp

Understanding of the nature or meaning or quality or magnitude of something;
He has a good grasp of accounting practices

Fathom

Come to understand

Grasp

The limit of capability;
Within the compass of education

Fathom

Measure the depth of (a body of water) with a sounding line

Grasp

A firm controlling influence;
They kept a firm grip on the two top priorities
He was in the grip of a powerful emotion
A terrible power had her in its grasp

Grasp

The act of grasping;
He released his clasp on my arm
He has a strong grip for an old man
She kept a firm hold on the railing

Grasp

Hold firmly

Grasp

Get the meaning of something;
Do you comprehend the meaning of this letter?

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