[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/plumb/)

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# plumb

verb (plumb, plumbs, plumbed, plumbing); adverb (plumb — informal); noun (a plumb, plumb line); adjective (plumb)

«plumb» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. (verb) To fit water pipes in a building: «plumb in a washing machine». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/plumb/#m1)
2. (noun) A weight on a string (a plumb line or plumb bob) used to check that something is exactly vertical or to measure depth. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/plumb/#m2)
3. (adjective) Exactly vertical, perfectly upright. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/plumb/#m3)
4. (verb) To measure the depth of water; «plumb the depths» means reach the deepest or worst point. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/plumb/#m4)
5. (informal, adverb, mainly US) Completely or exactly: «plumb crazy», «plumb in the middle». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/plumb/#m5)

### In the lessons

In science and DT lessons, a plumb line shows the true vertical because gravity pulls the weight straight down. Builders use it for walls. Sailors once used a weighted line to plumb the depth. Plumbers fit pipes. In everyday talk: «plumb the depths of despair».

### Examples

- The builder used a plumb line to check the wall. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/plumb/#x1)
- The wall is not plumb; it leans. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/plumb/#x2)
- Dad plumbed in the new dishwasher. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/plumb/#x3)
- Sailors plumbed the depth of the river. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/plumb/#x4)
- Gravity pulls the plumb bob straight down. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/plumb/#x5)
- «You're plumb crazy!» said the cowboy. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/plumb/#x6)
- The ball landed plumb in the middle of the target. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/plumb/#x7)

### Note

The «b» is silent: say PLUM. Homophone trap: «plum» (the fruit). Plumber, plumbing come from Latin «plumbum», lead, because old pipes were made of lead (chemical symbol Pb).

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «plumb» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/plumb/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«plumb» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/plumb.html) on Mova free.