Plumb

¹

[pluhm]

noun

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

plumb

²

[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.

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.

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

/ 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. 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

Other Word Forms

• plumbable adjective
• plumbless adjective
• plumbness noun
• replumb verb (used with object)
• unplumb 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

Beijing is laying the first pipe for financial plumbing in a post-American world—where U.S. sanctions no longer matter.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Bunce joked that at least Joshua's fight with Paul still retains at least a semblance of credibility given boxers have plumbed to even further depths at times.

Read more on BBC

The country had productive water-focused agricultural planning, major cities’ plumbing upgraded to reduce leaks, and several desalination plants—all designed, built and operated by Israelis in partnership with Iranian experts and engineers.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

At the time, tall buildings were grappling with how to supply heating and plumbing across dozens of floors.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

And while $300,000 or less sounds like a nice round figure, it could quickly end up costing more when plumbing and other foreseen and unforeseen structural conditions are taken into account.

Read more on MarketWatch

Related Words

• delve 
• explore 
• fathom 
• penetrate 
• unravel