plumbing

American  

[pluhm-ing] / ˈplʌm ɪŋ /

noun

1. the system of pipes and other apparatus for conveying water, liquid wastes, etc., as in a building.

2. the work or trade of a plumber. plumber.

3. act of a person who plumbs, as in ascertaining depth.

---

plumbing British  

/ ˈplʌmɪŋ /

noun

1. Also called: plumbery.  the trade or work of a plumber

2. the pipes, fixtures, etc, used in a water, drainage, or gas installation

3. the act or procedure of using a plumb to gauge depth, a vertical, etc

---

Etymology

Origin of plumbing

First recorded in 1660–70; plumb + -ing ¹

Example Sentences

At the rental homes he bought, he did most of the plumbing, electrical work and carpentry himself.

From The Wall Street Journal

Markets may eventually catch on—but only if they stop looking for a bazooka and start paying attention to the plumbing.

From Barron's

Daryel Estrada, a plumbing student at Worcester Tech, wants to study business management at community college so he can open his own plumbing practice.

From The Wall Street Journal

The glitchy Permian plumbing is forcing producers to drill through zones of high pressure, fortify their wells with additional strings of casing, and use protective coating against corrosive saltwater.

From The Wall Street Journal

And China’s evolution from a destination to an exporter of capital is reshaping the financial plumbing of global markets.

From Barron's

Related Words

• housewares