plumb1

 
Pronunciation: /plʌm/

verb

[with object]
  • 1measure (the depth of a body of water): I plumbed the depth and found the bottom of the shelf to be seven metres down
  • [no object, with adverbial] (of water) be of a specified depth: at its deepest the lake scarcely plumbed seven feet
  • explore or experience fully or to extremes: she had plumbed the depths of depravity
  • 2test (an upright surface) to determine the vertical: they are valuable aids in plumbing the frames and keeping the side of the ship fair

noun

  • a ball of lead or other heavy object attached to the end of a line for finding the depth of water or determining the vertical on an upright surface.

adverb

  • 1 informal exactly: trading opportunities plumb in the centre of central Europe
  • [as submodifier] North American extremely or completely: they must both be plumb crazy
  • 2 archaic vertically: drapery fell from their human forms plumb down

adjective

  • vertical: ensure that the skirting is straight and plumb
  • Cricket (of the wicket) level; true.

Phrases

out of plumb

not exactly vertical: the towers are inclined, from four to ten feet out of plumb

Origin:

Middle English (originally in the sense 'sounding lead'): via Old French from Latin plumbum 'lead'