PLUMB

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does plumb mean? 

• PLUMB (noun)
  The noun PLUMB has 1 sense:

1. the metal bob of a plumb line

  Familiarity information: PLUMB used as a noun is very rare.

• PLUMB (adjective)
  The adjective PLUMB has 1 sense:

1. exactly vertical

  Familiarity information: PLUMB used as an adjective is very rare.

• PLUMB (verb)
  The verb PLUMB has 4 senses:

1. measure the depth of something

2. weight with lead

3. examine thoroughly and in great depth

4. adjust with a plumb line so as to make vertical

  Familiarity information: PLUMB used as a verb is uncommon.

• PLUMB (adverb)
  The adverb PLUMB has 3 senses:

1. completely; used as intensifiers

2. conforming to the direction of a plumb line

3. exactly

  Familiarity information: PLUMB used as an adverb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• PLUMB (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The metal bob of a plumb line

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

plumb; plumb bob; plummet

Hypernyms ("plumb" is a kind of...):

bob (a hanging weight, especially a metal ball on a string)

Holonyms ("plumb" is a part of...):

perpendicular; plumb line (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)

Derivation:

plumb (adjust with a plumb line so as to make vertical)

plumb (weight with lead)

• PLUMB (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Exactly vertical

Context example:

the tower of Pisa is far out of plumb

Similar:

perpendicular; vertical (at right angles to the plane of the horizon or a base line)

• PLUMB (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they plumb    ... he / she / it plumbs   
Past simple: plumbed   
Past participle: plumbed   
-ing form: plumbing   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Measure the depth of something

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Hypernyms (to "plumb" is one way to...):

measure; quantify (express as a number or measure or quantity)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

plumbing (measuring the depths of the oceans)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Weight with lead

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "plumb" is one way to...):

burden; burthen; weight; weight down (weight down with a load)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

plumb (the metal bob of a plumb line)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Examine thoroughly and in great depth

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Hypernyms (to "plumb" is one way to...):

explore (examine minutely)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sentence examples:

The men plumb the area for animals
The men plumb for animals in the area

Sense 4

Meaning:

Adjust with a plumb line so as to make vertical

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "plumb" is one way to...):

adjust; correct; set (alter or regulate so as to achieve accuracy or conform to a standard)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

plumb (the metal bob of a plumb line)

• PLUMB (adverb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Completely; used as intensifiers

Synonyms:

clean; plum; plumb

Context example:

I'm plumb (or plum) tuckered out

Domain usage:

argot; cant; jargon; lingo; patois; slang; vernacular (a characteristic language of a particular group (as among thieves))

Sense 2

Meaning:

Conforming to the direction of a plumb line

Sense 3

Meaning:

Exactly

Synonyms:

plum; plumb

Context example:

fell plumb in the middle of the puddle

Domain usage:

colloquialism (a colloquial expression; characteristic of spoken or written communication that seeks to imitate informal speech)

 Context examples 

Do you need to pull out the plumbing to redo things or tear down a wall or put one up?

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

"You need it. I know I do. I'm plumb tuckered out."

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

Yellowstone's plumbing system is no larger or closer to erupting than before, scientists are just seeing more of it than ever before.

(Yellowstone magma discovery, NSF)

Plumb in the middle of the back of the head and smack through the brain.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Instead of the classical model of a volcano with a large magma chamber beneath, the researchers say that instead, it’s more like a volcanic ‘plumbing system’ extending through the crust with lots of small ‘spouts’ where magma can be quickly transferred to the surface.

(‘Crystal clocks’ used to time magma storage before volcanic eruptions, University of Cambridge)

I consulted the most experienced seamen upon the depth of the channel, which they had often plumbed; who told me, that in the middle, at high-water, it was seventy glumgluffs deep, which is about six feet of European measure; and the rest of it fifty glumgluffs at most.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

First he took out a soldering iron and some plumbing solder, and then a small oil-lamp, which gave out, when lit in a corner of the tomb, gas which burned at fierce heat with a blue flame; then his operating knives, which he placed to hand; and last a round wooden stake, some two and a half or three inches thick and about three feet long.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

We plumb forgot the window.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

So the Eytalian ’e lets swing again, but Bob ’e jumps inside an’ ’e lets ’im ’ave it plumb square on the meat safe as ’ard as ever the Lord would let ’im put it in.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The team believes these new models help us gain a better understanding of Yellowstone's plumbing system, and may lead to improved estimates of the potential future seismic and volcanic hazards.

(Yellowstone magma discovery, NSF)