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plumb

   Also found in: Idioms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia, Hutchinson 0.01 sec.
plumb  (plm)
n.
1. A weight on the end of a line, used to determine water depth.
2. A weight on the end of a line, used especially by masons and carpenters to establish a true vertical.
adv.
1. In a vertical or perpendicular line.
2. Informal Directly; squarely: fell plumb in the middle of the puddle.
3. also plum Informal Utterly; completely: plumb worn out. See Note at right.
adj.
1. Exactly vertical. See Synonyms at vertical.
2. also plum Informal Utter; absolute; sheer: a plumb fool.
v. plumbed, plumb·ing, plumbs
v.tr.
1. To determine the depth of with a plumb; sound.
2. To test the verticality or alignment of with a plumb.
3. To straighten or make perpendicular: plumb up the wall.
4. To examine closely or deeply; probe: "Shallow ideas are plumbed and discarded" Gilbert Highet.
5. To seal with lead.
v.intr.
To work as a plumber.
Idiom:
out of/off plumb
Not vertical.

[Middle English, lead, a plumb, from Old French plomb, from Latin plumbum, lead.]

plumba·ble adj.
plumbness n.

plumb
Verb
1. to understand (something obscure): to plumb a mystery
2. plumb the depths (usually foll. by of)
3. to experience the worst extremes (of something): to plumb the depths of despair
4. to test the alignment of or make vertical with a plumb line
5. (foll. by in, into)to connect (an appliance or fixture) to a water pipe or drainage system: the shower should be plumbed in professionally
Noun
1. a lead weight hanging at the end of a string and used to test the depth of water or to test whether something is vertical
2. out of plumb not vertical
Adverb
1. vertical or perpendicular
2. Informal, chiefly US utterly: plumb stupid
3. Informal exactly: plumb in the centre [Latin plumbum lead]
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.plumbplumb - the metal bob of a plumb line
bob - a hanging weight, especially a metal ball on a string
plumb line, perpendicular - a cord from which a metal weight is suspended pointing directly to the earth's center of gravity; used to determine the vertical from a given point
Verb1.plumb - measure the depth of something
measure, quantify - express as a number or measure or quantity; "Can you quantify your results?"
2.plumb - weight with lead
burden, burthen, weight, weight down - weight down with a load
3.plumb - examine thoroughly and in great depth
explore - examine minutely
4.plumb - adjust with a plumb line so as to make vertical
adjust, correct, set - alter or regulate so as to achieve accuracy or conform to a standard; "Adjust the clock, please"; "correct the alignment of the front wheels"
Adj.1.plumb - exactly vertical; "the tower of Pisa is far out of plumb"
vertical, perpendicular - at right angles to the plane of the horizon or a base line; "a vertical camera angle"; "the monument consists of two vertical pillars supporting a horizontal slab"; "measure the perpendicular height"
Adv.1.plumb - completely; used as intensifiers; "clean forgot the appointment"; "I'm plumb (or plum) tuckered out"
jargon, lingo, patois, argot, vernacular, slang, cant - a characteristic language of a particular group (as among thieves); "they don't speak our lingo"
2.plumb - conforming to the direction of a plumb line
3.plumb - exactly; "fell plumb in the middle of the puddle"
colloquialism - a colloquial expression; characteristic of spoken or written communication that seeks to imitate informal speech

plumb
verb 1. delve into, measure, explore, probe, sound out, search, go into, penetrate, gauge, unravel, fathom
adverb 2. exactly, precisely, bang, slap, spot-on Brit. (informal)
Translations
Spanish plumb [plʌm] adjvertical
nplomo
adv (= exactly) → exactamente, en punto
vtsondar;
(fig) → sondear
plumb in vt [+ washing machine] → conectar

French plumb [plʌm] adjvertical(e)
nplomb m
adv (= exactly) → en plein
vtsonder
plumb in vt [+ washing machine] → faire le raccordement de

German plumb [plʌm] vt to plumb the depths of despair/humiliation → die tiefste Verzweiflung/Erniedrigung erleben
plumb in plumb vtanschließen, installieren

Italian plumb [plʌm] adjverticale
npiombo
adv (= exactly) → esattamente
vtsondare
plumb in vt [+ washing machine] → collegare all'impianto idraulico

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? Mentioned in ? References in classic literature
 
Arobin had put on his coat, and he stood before her and asked if his cravat was plumb.
Oh, she was plumb deef en dumb, Huck, plumb deef en dumb -- en I'd ben a- treat'n her so
This silence was broken by one of the brethren, who led Pierre up to the rug and began reading to him from a manuscript book an explanation of all the figures on it: the sun, the moon, a hammer, a plumb line, a trowel, a rough stone and a squared stone, a pillar, three windows, and so on.
 
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