# plumb

> English word · Noun · IPA /plʌm/ · frequency rank #32,124

## Definitions
1. A little mass of lead, or the like, attached to a line, and used by builders, etc., to indicate a vertical direction.
2. A weight on the end of a long line, used by sailors to determine the depth of water.
3. The perpendicular direction or position.

## Etymology
From Middle English plumbe, plumme, from Old French *plombe, from Latin plumba, plural of plumbum.

## Easily confused with
- **pub** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/plumb-vs-pub)
- **plus** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/plumb-vs-plus)
- **pump** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/plumb-vs-pump)
- **puma** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/plumb-vs-puma)
- **Pluto** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/plumb-vs-pluto)
- **plush** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/plumb-vs-plush)
- **plume** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/plumb-vs-plume)
- **plump** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/plumb-vs-plump)
- **plums** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/plumb-vs-plums)
- **plumes** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/plumb-vs-plumes)
- **plumber** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/plumb-vs-plumber)
- **plug** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/plug-vs-plumb)
- **plum** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/plum-vs-plumb)
- **plugs** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/plugs-vs-plumb)
- **pluck** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pluck-vs-plumb)

## Common misspellings (8)
`lpumb`, `pllumb`, `plmub`, `plubm`, `plumbb`, `plummb`, `pplumb`, `pulmb`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/plumb