v. t. [ 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

He did not attempt to plumb his intellect. Ld. Lytton. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To seal with lead; as, to plumb a drainpipe. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To supply, as a building, with a system of plumbing. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. plomb, L. plumbum lead, a leaden ball or bullet; cf. Gr. mo`lybos, mo`libos, mo`lybdos. Cf. Plummet, Plunge. ] 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Plumb bob. See Bob, 4. --
Plumb joint, in sheet-metal work, a lap joint, fastened by solder. --
Plumb level. See under Level. --
Plumb line. (a) The cord by which a plumb bob is suspended; a plummet. (b) A line directed to the center of gravity of the earth. --
Plumb rule, a narrow board with a plumb line, used by builders and carpenters. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Perpendicular; vertical; conforming the direction of a line attached to a plumb; as, the wall is plumb. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a plumb direction; perpendicularly. “Plumb down he falls.” Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Leadwork [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. plumbago leadwort, fr. plumbum lead; cf. F. plombagin. ] (Chem.) A crystalline substance said to be found in the root of a certain plant of the Leadwort (Plumbago) family. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Bot.) Pertaining to natural order (Plumbagineæ) of gamopetalous herbs, of which Plumbago is the type. The order includes also the marsh rosemary, the thrift, and a few other genera. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Resembling plumbago; consisting of, or containing, plumbago; as, a plumbaginous slate. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L., from plumbum lead. ] 1. (Min.) Same as Graphite. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Bot.) A genus of herbaceous plants with pretty salver-shaped corollas, usually blue or violet; leadwort. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. [ L. plumbeus, from plumbum the metal lead. ] 1. Consisting of, or resembling, lead. J. Ellis. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Dull; heavy; stupid. [ R. ] J. P. Smith. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. plombier. See Plumb. ] One who works in lead; esp., one who furnishes, fits, and repairs lead pipes. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Hence: Any worker who installs or repairs piping and related equipment for conveyance of water, gas, or drainage into or out of buildings, or within buildings to fixtures or equipment using water. The type of material used for the conduits varies with the application, and may be may be of lead, iron, copper, glass, palstic, or other material. [ PJC ]

A pillow block. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. plomberie. ] 1. The business of a plumber. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A place where plumbing is carried on; lead works. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ From Plumbum. ] (Chem.) Of, pertaining to, resembling, or containing, lead; -- used specifically to designate those compounds in which it has a higher valence as contrasted with plumbous compounds; as, plumbic oxide. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Plumbum + -ferous. ] Producing or containing lead. Kirwan. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The art of casting and working in lead, and applying it to building purposes; especially, the business of furnishing, fitting, and repairing pipes for conducting water, sewage, etc. Gwilt. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The lead or iron pipes, and other apparatus, used in conveying water, sewage, etc., in a building. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ From Plumbum. ] (Med.) A diseased condition, produced by the absorption of lead, common among workers in this metal or in its compounds, as among painters, typesetters, etc. It is characterized by various symptoms, as lead colic, lead line, and wrist drop. See under Colic, Lead, and Wrist. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ From Plumbum. ] (Chem.) Of, pertaining to, or containing, lead; -- used specifically to designate those compounds in which it has a lower valence as contrasted with plumbic compounds. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ L. ] (Chem.) The technical name of lead. See Lead. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ 1st pref. un- + plumb. ] To deprive of lead, as of a leaden coffin. [ R. ] Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]