[syn: plumb, plum]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Plumb \Plumb\ (pl[u^]m), n. [F. plomb, L. plumbum lead, a leaden
ball or bullet; cf. Gr. mo`lybos, mo`libos, mo`lybdos. Cf.
Plummet, Plunge.]
A little mass or weight of lead, or the like, attached to a
line, and used by builders, etc., to indicate a vertical
direction; a plummet; a plumb bob. See Plumb line, below.
[1913 Webster]
Plumb bob. See Bob, 4.
Plumb joint, in sheet-metal work, a lap joint, fastened by
solder.
Plumb level. See under Level.
Plumb line.
(a) The cord by which a plumb bob is suspended; a plummet.
(b) A line directed to the center of gravity of the earth.
Plumb rule, a narrow board with a plumb line, used by
builders and carpenters.
[1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Plumb \Plumb\, a.
Perpendicular; vertical; conforming the direction of a line
attached to a plumb; as, the wall is plumb.
[1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Plumb \Plumb\, adv.
In a plumb direction; perpendicularly. "Plumb down he falls."
--Milton.
[1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Plumb \Plumb\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Plumbed (pl[u^]md); p. pr.
& vb. n. Plumbing (pl[u^]m"[i^]ng).]
1. To adjust by a plumb line; to cause to be perpendicular;
as, to plumb a building or a wall.
[1913 Webster]
2. To sound with a plumb or plummet, as the depth of water;
hence, to examine by test; to ascertain the depth,
quality, dimension, etc.; to sound; to fathom; to test.
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He did not attempt to plumb his intellect. --Ld.
Lytton.
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3. To seal with lead; as, to plumb a drainpipe.
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4. To supply, as a building, with a system of plumbing.
[1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
plumb
adv 1: completely; used as intensifiers; "clean forgot the
appointment"; "I'm plumb (or plum) tuckered out" [syn:
clean, plumb, plum]
2: conforming to the direction of a plumb line
3: exactly; "fell plumb in the middle of the puddle" [syn:
plumb, plum]
adj 1: exactly vertical; "the tower of Pisa is far out of plumb"
n 1: the metal bob of a plumb line [syn: plumb bob, plumb,
plummet]
v 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