cable's length
Học thuậtThân thiện
A ship's anchor chain extends several cable's lengths into the deep blue sea.
Definition
Noun: A cable's length is a nautical unit of measurement for depth or distance, historically based on the length of a ship's anchor cable. Its standardized modern value is one-tenth of a nautical mile.
Usage
This term is used specifically in maritime contexts to express linear distances, often for depth sounding or the spacing between objects at sea. - The ship anchored in water approximately five cable's lengths deep. - The two vessels were stationed about two cable's lengths apart.
Advanced Usage
- The term can be abbreviated as cable in technical or informal nautical language.
- The submarine dove to a depth of 10 cables.
Variants and Related Words
- Cable (noun): A common shortened form of "cable's length."
- Nautical mile (noun): A unit of distance used in maritime and aviation navigation, equal to approximately 1.852 kilometers. Ten cable's lengths equal one nautical mile.
- Fathom (noun): Another nautical unit of depth, equal to six feet (approximately 1.8288 meters).
Synonyms
- Cable: The direct synonym and abbreviated form.
- Tenth of a nautical mile: The precise metric definition.
Notes on Meaning
- The exact length of a "cable's length" has varied historically. The modern international standard is 185.2 meters or 607.61 feet.
- It is important to distinguish this unit from a cable as a thick rope or a bundle of wires for transmitting electricity or signals. The meaning is entirely dependent on context.
A ship's anchor chain extends several cable's lengths into the deep blue sea.
Noun
- a nautical unit of depth