Word
plumb
US/ˈpɫəm/
UK/plˈʌm/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a heavy metal weight used to measure the depth of water. You drop it into the sea to see how deep the water is.
n. a heavy lead weight used for measuring the depth of water. Often used in nautical contexts to determine the depth of a ship's keel or the depth of the sea.
Examples
“The sailor dropped the plumb into the water.”
“Before anchoring, the captain lowered a plumb to check the depth of the harbor floor.”
“By measuring the time it took for the plumb to reach the seabed, the navigator could estimate the depth with a high degree of accuracy.”
Examples
simple
“The sailor dropped the plumb into the water.”
contextual
“Before anchoring, the captain lowered a plumb to check the depth of the harbor floor.”
complex
“By measuring the time it took for the plumb to reach the seabed, the navigator could estimate the depth with a high degree of accuracy.”
Real-World Examples
“With the narwhals plumbing the cold depths of the Arctic Ocean, "we can sit at our warm offices and drink coffee while the data comes in," he added.” “But this franticness can’t disguise that it’s a dopey and facile thriller that, despite capable performances, plumbs neither its characters’ depths nor hits thematic pay dirt.” “In schools, lead can come from deteriorating paint or from old plumbing, where water that sits unused in pipes can pick up lead .” “Jordan Scowen’s Bob switches well between being intoxicated, crestfallen and disgusted with Jenny but should plumb greater depths of despair.” Etymology
From Middle English plumbe, plumme, from Old French *plombe, from Latin plumba, plural of plumbum.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/plumb