First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
1plumb
noun \ˈpləm\
Definition of PLUMB
: a lead weight attached to a line and used to indicate a vertical direction
— out of plumb or off plumb
: out of vertical or true
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Origin of PLUMB
Middle English, from Anglo-French plum, plomb, from Latin plumbum lead
Other Civil Engineering Terms
2plumb
adverb
: exactly straight down or up : in a perfectly vertical position
: to a complete degree
Full Definition of PLUMB
1
: straight down or up : vertically
2
chiefly dialect : to a complete degree : absolutely <‘you're plumb crazy’, she remarked, with easy candor — Harper's Weekly>
3
: in a direct manner : exactly; also : without interval of time : immediately
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First Known Use of PLUMB
15th century
Related to PLUMB
- Antonyms
- indirectly
3plumb
verb
: to examine (something) in a careful and complete way in order to understand it
: to experience or reach (something)
: to install pipes for sinks, toilets, etc., in (a building or room)
Full Definition of PLUMB
transitive verb
1
: to weight with lead
2
a : to measure the depth of with a plumb b : to examine minutely and critically <plumbing the book's complexities>
3
: to adjust or test by a plumb line
4
: to seal with lead
5
[back-formation from plumber] : to supply with or install as plumbing
intransitive verb
: to work as a plumber
See plumb defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of PLUMB
15th century
4plumb
adjective
: exactly vertical : standing perfectly straight and not leaning in any way
Full Definition of PLUMB
1
: exactly vertical or true
See plumb defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of PLUMB
15th century
Related to PLUMB
- Synonyms
- all-out, arrant, blank, blooming [chiefly British], bodacious [Southern & Midland], categorical (also categoric), clean, complete, consummate, cotton-picking, crashing, damn, damned, dead, deadly, definite, downright, dreadful, fair, flat, flat-out, out-and-out, outright, perfect, absolute, profound, pure, rank, regular, sheer, simple, stark, stone, straight-out, thorough, thoroughgoing, total, unadulterated, unalloyed, unconditional, unmitigated, unqualified, utter, very
Synonym Discussion of PLUMB
vertical, perpendicular, plumb mean being at right angles to a base line. vertical suggests a line or direction rising straight upward toward a zenith <the side of the cliff is almost vertical>. perpendicular may stress the straightness of a line making a right angle with any other line, not necessarily a horizontal one <the parallel bars are perpendicular to the support posts>. plumb stresses an exact verticality determined (as with a plumb line) by earth's gravity <make sure that the wall is plumb>.
PLUMB Defined for Kids
1plumb
noun \ˈpləm\
Definition of PLUMB for Kids
: a small weight attached to a line and used to show depth or a straight vertical line
2plumb
verb
plumbedplumb·ing
Definition of PLUMB for Kids
: to measure or test with a plumb <They plumbed the depth of a well.>
3plumb
adverb
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