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

To plumb deeper structure all the way down to Earth’s core, SinoProbe II will rely on several thousand “passive” seismometers across China, listening for earthquakes near and far.

From Science Magazine

But President Boko told the BBC Africa Daily podcast that his initiative would also be an opportunity for his countrymen to learn basic skills, like welding and plumbing, from Zimbabweans.

From BBC

Reflecting on water privatisation in her memoirs, Margaret Thatcher wrote that "the rain may come from the Almighty but he did not send the pipes, plumbing and engineering to go with it".

From BBC

He sounded almost mystical when his thoughts turned to the comforts of indoor plumbing.

From Los Angeles Times

The owner was ordered to fix the violations, which included unpermitted electrical and plumbing work, within 90 days, according to city records.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• delve
• explore
• fathom
• penetrate
• unravel