
the work or trade of a plumber.
act of a person who plumbs, as in ascertaining depth.

1660–70; plumb + -ing1 Unabridged


adjective Also, plum.
true according to a plumb line; perpendicular.
Informal. downright or absolute.
adverb Also, plum.
in a perpendicular or vertical direction.
exactly, precisely, or directly.
Informal. completely or absolutely: She was plumb mad. You're plumb right.
verb (used with object)
to test or adjust by a plumb line.
to make vertical.
Shipbuilding. horn ( def 31 ).
to sound with or as with a plumb line.
to measure (depth) by sounding.
to seal with lead.
to weight with lead.
verb (used without object)
to work as a plumber.
out of/off plumb, not corresponding to the perpendicular; out of true.

1250–1300; Middle English plumbe, probably < Anglo-French *plombe < Vulgar Latin *plumba, for Latin plumbum lead

plumbable, adjective
plumbless, adjective
plumbness, noun
replumb, verb (used with object)
unplumb, adjective

plum, plumb.

2. vertical, straight, square. Unabridged
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World English Dictionary
plumb (plʌm)
1.  a weight, usually of lead, suspended at the end of a line and used to determine water depth or verticality
2.  the perpendicular position of a freely suspended plumb line (esp in the phrases out of plumb, off plumb)
3.  informal chiefly (US) (prenominal) (intensifier): a plumb nuisance
4.  in a vertical or perpendicular line
5.  informal chiefly (US) (intensifier): plumb stupid
6.  informal exactly; precisely (also in the phrase plumb on)
vb (often foll by up)
7.  to test the alignment of or adjust to the vertical with a plumb line
8.  (tr) to undergo or experience (the worst extremes of misery, sadness, etc): to plumb the depths of despair
9.  (tr) to understand or master (something obscure): to plumb a mystery
10.  to connect or join (a device such as a tap) to a water pipe or drainage system
[C13: from Old French plomb (unattested) lead line, from Old French plon lead, from Latin plumbum lead]

plumbing (ˈplʌmɪŋ)
1.  Also called: plumbery the trade or work of a plumber
2.  the pipes, fixtures, etc, used in a water, drainage, or gas installation
3.  the act or procedure of using a plumb to gauge depth, a vertical, etc

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
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Word Origin & History

c.1300, "lead hung on a string to show the vertical line," from O.Fr. *plombe, plomme "sounding lead," from L.L. *plumba, originally pl. of L. plumbum "lead," the metal, of unknown origin, related to Gk. molybdos "lead" (dial. bolimos), probably from an extinct Mediterranean language, perhaps Iberian.
The verb is first recorded c.1380, with sense "to immerse;" meaning "take soundings with a plumb" is first recorded 1568; fig. sense of "to get to the bottom of" is from 1599. Plumb-bob is from 1835. Adj. sense of "perpendicular, vertical" is from c.1460; the notion of "exact measurement" led to extended sense of "completely, downright" (1748), sometimes spelled plump or plunk.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Computing Dictionary

plumbing definition

The tee utility is specifically designed for plumbing.
[Jargon File]

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Example sentences
The houses were thoroughly refitted with proper plumbing.
  followed by the drywallers, siding and painters.
Studying literature doesn't guarantee moral improvement any more than studying
  chemistry, economics, or plumbing does.
Some creative plumbing and the right diet might solve a few space travel issues.
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