Choose a Measurement
Select a measurement and convert between different units
Single conversion
To convert from Decimeter (dm) to Fathom (fathom), use the following formula:
With is the ratio between the base units Foot (ft) and Meter (m).
Let's convert 5 Decimeter (dm) to Fathom (fathom).
Using the formula:
Therefore, 5 Decimeter (dm) is equal to Fathom (fathom).
Here are some quick reference conversions from Decimeter (dm) to Fathom (fathom):
| Decimeters | Fathoms |
|---|---|
| 0.000001 dm | fathom |
| 0.001 dm | fathom |
| 0.1 dm | fathom |
| 1 dm | fathom |
| 2 dm | fathom |
| 3 dm | fathom |
| 4 dm | fathom |
| 5 dm | fathom |
| 6 dm | fathom |
| 7 dm | fathom |
| 8 dm | fathom |
| 9 dm | fathom |
| 10 dm | fathom |
| 20 dm | fathom |
| 30 dm | fathom |
| 40 dm | fathom |
| 50 dm | fathom |
| 100 dm | fathom |
| 1000 dm | fathom |
| 10000 dm | fathom |
For all Length converters, choose units using the From/To dropdowns above.
A decimeter (dm) is a unit of length in the metric system equal to one-tenth of a meter (0.1 m).
Its plural form is decimeters.
One of the most important uses of the decimeter is in measuring volume.
A cubic decimeter (dm3) is the volume of a cube with edges that are one decimeter long. This connection is beneficial, as one cubic decimeter is precisely equal to one liter (L).
This direct relationship (1 dm3 = 1 L) makes the decimeter a fundamental unit in chemistry and physics for calculating liquid volumes and densities.
The decimeter serves as a convenient intermediate unit between the meter (m) and the centimeter (cm). It provides a practical step in the metric system's base-10 structure.
Here are the key conversions:
While less common in everyday conversation, the decimeter is often used in specific fields, such as woodworking and shoemaking, for measurements that are too large for centimeters but too small for fractions of a meter.
The name "decimeter" comes from the Latin word decimus, meaning "tenth."
The prefix "deci-" always signifies one-tenth (1/10 or 10-1) of a base unit.
Understanding this prefix makes it easy to convert between different metric units.
A fathom is a unit of length in the imperial system of measurement.
It is most famously used for measuring the depth of water.
A fathom is equal to exactly 6 feet (or 1.8288 meters). The plural form is fathoms.
The word "fathom" originates from the Old English word "fæthm," which means "outstretched arms" or "a pair of embracing arms."
Historically, a fathom was defined as the distance from the middle fingertip of one hand to the middle fingertip of the other when a person's arms are fully extended.
This made it a convenient and readily available unit of measurement for sailors and workers.
The fathom is best known for its use in a nautical context to measure water depth.
Mariners would drop a weighted line, called a sounding line, into the water and count the number of "arm spans" it took to reach the bottom.
This measurement was crucial for safe navigation, anchoring, and creating nautical charts to map the seabed.
While modern technology and the metric system have replaced the fathom in official hydrographic surveys, its influence persists.
The term is still used informally in commercial fishing and can be found on many older nautical charts.
Figuratively, the verb "to fathom"—meaning to understand something deeply—is a direct link to the original act of measuring depth and getting to the bottom of things.