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plumb
9 dictionary results for: plumb
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
plumb 
[pluhm] Pronunciation Key
—Related forms
[pluhm] Pronunciation Key –noun
–adjective
–adverb
–verb (used with object)
–verb (used without object)
—Idiom
| 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. |
| 2. | true according to a plumb line; perpendicular. |
| 3. | Informal. downright or absolute. |
| 4. | in a perpendicular or vertical direction. |
| 5. | exactly, precisely, or directly. |
| 6. | Informal. completely or absolutely: She was plumb mad. You're plumb right. |
| 7. | to test or adjust by a plumb line. |
| 8. | to make vertical. |
| 9. | Shipbuilding. horn (def. 31). |
| 10. | to sound with or as with a plumb line. |
| 11. | to measure (depth) by sounding. |
| 12. | to examine closely in order to discover or understand: to plumb someone's thoughts. |
| 13. | to seal with lead. |
| 14. | to weight with lead. |
| 15. | to provide (a house, building, apartment, etc.) with plumbing. |
| 16. | to work as a plumber. |
| 17. | out of or off plumb, not corresponding to the perpendicular; out of true. |
Also, plum (for defs. 2–6).
[Origin: 1250–1300; ME plumbe, prob. < AF *plombe < VL *plumba, for L plumbum lead]
] —Related forms
plumb·a·ble, adjective
plumbless, adjective
plumbness, noun
—Synonyms 2. vertical, straight, square.
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
| plumb
(plŭm) Pronunciation Key
n.
adv.
adj.
v. plumbed, plumb·ing, plumbs v. tr.
v. intr. To work as a plumber. [Middle English, lead, a plumb, from Old French plomb, from Latin plumbum, lead.] plumb'a·ble adj., plumb'ness n. |
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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
plumb (n.)
plumb (n.)
c.1300, "lead hung on a string to show the vertical line," from O.Fr. *plombe, plomme "sounding lead," from L.L. *plumba, originally pl. of L. plumbum "lead," the metal, of unknown origin, related to Gk. molybdos "lead" (dial. bolimos), probably from an extinct Mediterranean language, perhaps Iberian. The verb is first recorded c.1380, with sense "to immerse;" meaning "take soundings with a plumb" is first recorded 1568; fig. sense of "to get to the bottom of" is from 1599. Plumb-bob is from 1835. Adj. sense of "perpendicular, vertical" is from c.1460; the notion of "exact measurement" led to extended sense of "completely, downright" (1748), sometimes spelled plump or plunk.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This
| plumb | |
adjective | |
| 1. | exactly vertical; "the tower of Pisa is far out of plumb" |
adverb | |
| 1. | completely; used as intensifiers; "clean forgot the appointment"; "I'm plumb (or plum) tuckered out" [syn: clean] |
| 2. | conforming to the direction of a plumb line |
| 3. | exactly; "fell plumb in the middle of the puddle" |
noun | |
| 1. | the metal bob of a plumb line [syn: plumb bob] |
verb | |
| 1. | measure the depth of something |
| 2. | weight with lead |
| 3. | examine thoroughly and in great depth |
| 4. | adjust with a plumb line so as to make vertical |
WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
Plumb
Plumb\, n. [F. plomb, L. plumbum lead, a leaden ball or bullet; cf. Gr. ?, ?, ?. Cf. Plummet, Plunge.] A little mass or weight of lead, or the like, attached to a line, and used by builders, etc., to indicate a vertical direction; a plummet; a plumb bob. See Plumb line, below. Plumb bob. See Bob, 4. Plumb joint, in sheet-metal work, a lap joint, fastened by solder. Plumb level. See under Level. Plumb line. (a) The cord by which a plumb bob is suspended; a plummet. (b) A line directed to the center of gravity of the earth. Plumb rule, a narrow board with a plumb line, used by builders and carpenters.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
Plumb
Plumb\, a. Perpendicular; vertical; conforming the direction of a line attached to a plumb; as, the wall is plumb.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
Plumb
Plumb\, adv. In a plumb direction; perpendicularly. "Plumb down he falls." --Milton.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
Plumb
Plumb\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Plumbed; p. pr. & vb. n. Plumbing.]1. To adjust by a plumb line; to cause to be perpendicular; as, to plumb a building or a wall. 2. To sound with a plumb or plummet, as the depth of water; hence, to examine by test; to ascertain the depth, quality, dimension, etc.; to sound; to fathom; to test. He did not attempt to plumb his intellect. --Ld. Lytton. 3. To seal with lead; as, to plumb a drainpipe. 4. To supply, as a building, with a system of plumbing.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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