Plumb

Pronunciation

• enPR: plÅ­m, IPA: /plÊŒm/
• Rhymes: -ÊŒm
• Homophones: plum

Origin

From Old French *plombe, from Latin plumba (plural of plumbum).

Full definition of plumb

Adjective

1. truly vertical, as indicated by a plumb line
2. (cricket) Describing an LBW where the batsman is hit on the pads directly in front of his wicket and should be given out.

Synonyms

• (truly vertical) perpendicular

Adverb

1. In a vertical direction; perpendicularly.
• MiltonPlumb down he falls.
2. (informal) Squarely, directly; completely.It hit him plumb in the middle of his face.Years ago the well plumb dried out, not a drop of water in there since.

Noun

1. A little mass of lead, or the like, attached to a line, and used by builders, etc., to indicate a vertical direction.
2. (nautical) A weight on the end of a long line, used by sailors to determine the depth of water.

Synonyms

• (construction) plummet, plumb bob (UK), plumb line (US)

Derived terms

• plumb bob
• off plumb
• out of plumb
• plumb line
• plumb rule

Verb

1. To determine the depth, generally of a liquid; to sound.
2. To attach to a water supply and drain.
3. To think about or explore in depth, to get to the bottom of, especially to plumb the depths of.
4. To use a plumb bob as a measuring or aligning tool.
5. To accurately align vertically or horizontally.
6. (dated) To seal something with lead.
7. (intransitive) To work as a plumber.
8. (rare) To fall or sink like a plummet.
9. (US, colloquial, figuratively, obsolete) To trace a road or track; to follow it to its end.
10. (nautical) To position vertically above or below.