plumb

¹

[ pluhm ]

noun

1. a small mass of lead or other heavy material, as that suspended by a line and used to measure the depth of water or to ascertain a vertical line. Compare plumb line.

adjective

1. true according to a plumb line perpendicular.

   Synonyms: square, straight, vertical

2. Informal. downright or absolute.

adverb

1. in a perpendicular or vertical direction.
2. exactly, precisely, or directly.
3. Informal. completely or absolutely:

   She was plumb mad. You're plumb right.

verb (used with object)

1. to test or adjust by a plumb line.
2. to make vertical.
3. Shipbuilding. horn ( def 32 ).
4. to sound with or as with a plumb line.
5. to measure (depth) by sounding.
6. to examine closely in order to discover or understand:

   to plumb someone's thoughts.

7. to seal with lead.
8. to weight with lead.
9. to provide (a house, building, apartment, etc.) with plumbing.

verb (used without object)

1. to work as a plumber.

Plumb

²

[ pluhm ]

noun

1. J(ohn) H(arold), 1911–2001, British historian.

plumb

/ plʌm /

noun

1. a weight, usually of lead, suspended at the end of a line and used to determine water depth or verticality
2. the perpendicular position of a freely suspended plumb line (esp in the phrases out of plumb, off plumb )

adjective

1. informal.
   prenominal (intensifier)

   a plumb nuisance

adverb

1. in a vertical or perpendicular line
2. informal.
   (intensifier)

   plumb stupid

3. informal.
   exactly; precisely (also in the phrase plumb on )

verb

1. troften foll byup to test the alignment of or adjust to the vertical with a plumb line
2. tr to undergo or experience (the worst extremes of misery, sadness, etc)

   to plumb the depths of despair

3. tr to understand or master (something obscure)

   to plumb a mystery

4. to connect or join (a device such as a tap) to a water pipe or drainage system

Derived Forms

• ˈplumbable, adjective

Other Words From

• plumba·ble adjective
• plumbless adjective
• plumbness noun
• re·plumb verb (used with object)
• un·plumb adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of plumb¹

1250–1300; Middle English plumbe, probably < Anglo-French *plombe < Vulgar Latin *plumba, for Latin plumbum lead

Word History and Origins

Origin of plumb¹

C13: from Old French plomb (unattested) lead line, from Old French plon lead, from Latin plumbum lead

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. out of / off plumb, not corresponding to the perpendicular; out of true.

Example Sentences

Kevin Plumb, representing the league, said efforts to protect broadcast rights would continue by cracking down on illegal operators “no matter the scale”.

From BBC

Mr Plumb said the selling of Premier League broadcast rights helped support "financial contributions to the whole football pyramid".

From BBC

In Shasta County, the letter was presented by Patty Plumb, a member of the advisory commission, who said the machine tally jeopardized the county board’s “certification of the vote” — even though the board does not have that legal power.

From Los Angeles Times

“Certifying uncertifiable elections in a federal election can reach the level of treason,” Plumb and supporters read from the letter.

From Los Angeles Times

As in a postconviction hearing, judges can ask questions, plumb the record for details, and, when they see fit, refuse to accept the deal negotiated by the parties.

From Slate

Related Words

• delve
• explore
• fathom
• penetrate
• unravel