plumb line

noun

a cord from which a metal weight is suspended pointing directly to the earth's center of gravity; used to determine the vertical from a given point (Freq. 1)

• Syn: ↑perpendicular

• Hypernyms: ↑cord

• Hyponyms: ↑lead line, ↑sounding line, ↑plumb rule

• Part Meronyms: ↑plumb bob, ↑plumb, ↑plummet

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noun

1.

a. : a line or cord having at one end a plumb bob or other weight and used to determine verticality : plummet

b. : plumb rule

2.

a. : a line directed to the center of gravity of the earth : a vertical line

b. obsolete : a line perpendicular to another

3. : sounding line

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1. a cord with a lead bob attached to one end, used to determine perpendicularity, the depth of water, etc. Cf. plumb (def. 1).

2. See plumb rule.

[1530-40]

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plumb line noun

1. A line to which a bob is attached to show the vertical line

2. A vertical line

3. A plummet

• • •

Main Entry: ↑plumb

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plumb line UK US noun [countable] [singular plumb line plural plumb lines]

a piece of string with a metal object fixed to the bottom, used for checking whether a wall is straight or for measuring the depth of water

Thesaurus: general hand tools_hyponym instruments used in mathematics and geometry_hyponym

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plumb line,

1. a line with a plumb at the end, used to find the depth of water or to see if a wall is vertical.

2. a line that is vertical, such as one formed by the surface of a wall.

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n. a line with a plumb attached to it, used for finding the depth of water or determining the vertical on an upright surface

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noun, pl ⋯ lines [count]

: a tool that consists of a small, heavy object attached to a string or rope and that is used especially to see if something (such as a wall) is perfectly vertical — called also (US) plumb bob

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ˈplumb line f9 [plumb line plumb lines] noun

a piece of thick string with a weight attached to one end, used to find the depth of water or to test whether a wall, etc. is straight