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plumb (plŭm)
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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. 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.
6. To outfit with or connect to a plumbing system: plumbed the utility closet so a washing machine could be installed.
v.intr.
To work as a plumber.
Idiom:
off/out of plumb
Not vertical.
[Middle English, lead, a plumb, from Old French plomb, from Latin plumbum, lead.]
plumba·ble adj.
plumbness n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
 

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

    Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

    Indo-European Roots

    Semitic Roots

    The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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