Plumb — Defs

01 n. 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; …

1.
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.

Phrases & compounds

Plumb bob — See Bob, 4.

Plumb joint — in sheet-metal work, a lap joint, fastened by solder.

Plumb level — See under Level.

Plumb line — The cord by which a plumb bob is suspended; a plummet

Plumb rule — a narrow board with a plumb line, used by builders and carpenters.

02 a. Perpendicular; vertical; conforming the direction of a line attached to a plumb; as, the wall is plumb.

1.
Perpendicular; vertical; conforming the direction of a line attached to a plumb; as, the wall is plumb.

03 adv. In a plumb direction; perpendicularly.

04 v. t. To adjust by a plumb line; to cause to be perpendicular; as, to plumb a building or a wall.

imp. & p. p. Plumbed; p. pr. & vb. n. Plumbing

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.” — Ld. Lytton.
3.
To seal with lead; as, to plumb a drainpipe.
4.
To supply, as a building, with a system of plumbing.