plumbable

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.

Thesaurus

Adj.

1.

plumbable - (of depth) capable of being sounded or measured for depth fathomable, soundable