plumb (redirected from plumbness)

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.

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

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plumba·ble adj.

plumbness n.

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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]

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	plumb - the metal bob of a plumb line         plumb bob, plummet 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
Verb	1.	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" clean, plum 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" plum colloquialism - a colloquial expression; characteristic of spoken or written communication that seeks to imitate informal speech

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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

plumb [plʌm] adj → vertical

n → plomo

adv (= exactly) → exactamente, en punto

vt → sondar;

(fig) → sondear

plumb in vt [+ washing machine] → conectar

plumb [plʌm] adj → vertical(e)

n → plomb m

adv (= exactly) → en plein

vt → sonder

plumb in vt [+ washing machine] → faire le raccordement de

plumb [plʌm] vt to plumb the depths of despair/humiliation → die tiefste Verzweiflung/Erniedrigung erleben

plumb in plumb vt → anschließen, installieren

plumb [plʌm] adj → verticale

n → piombo

adv (= exactly) → esattamente

vt → sondare

plumb in vt [+ washing machine] → collegare all'impianto idraulico