plumb Hear it!

plumb definition

plumb (plum)

noun

a lead weight (plumb bob) hung at the end of a line (plumb line), used to determine how deep water is or whether a wall, etc. is vertical

Etymology: ME plumbe < MFr plomb < L plumbum, lead < non-IE source > Gr molybdos

adjective

perfectly vertical; straight down

adverb

  1. in a vertical direction; straight down
  2. Informal entirely; wholly; absolutely plumb tired out

intransitive verb

Informal to work as a plumber

Etymology: ME plumben

transitive verb

  1. to test or sound with a plumb
  2. to discover the facts or contents of; fathom; solve; understand
  3. to make vertical
  4. to weight or seal with lead
  5. to equip with plumbing
plumb Idioms

out of plumb

or out off plumb
not vertical

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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