Plumb
Plumb (plum) , noun
[French plomb, Latin plumbum lead, a leaden ball or bullet; compare Greek mo`lybos, mo`libos, mo`lybdos. Compare 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.
Collocations (5)
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.
Plumb , adjective
Perpendicular; vertical; conforming the direction of a line attached to a plumb; as, the wall is plumb.
Plumb , adverb
In a plumb direction; perpendicularly.
Plumb down he falls.
Plumb (plumd) , transitive verb
1.
To adjust by a plumb line; to cause to be perpendicular; as, to plumb a building or a wall.
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.
He did not attempt to plumb his intellect.
3.
To seal with lead; as, to plumb a drainpipe.
4.
To supply, as a building, with a system of plumbing.