
plumb
词源
源自拉丁语 'plumbum',意为“铅”,因为铅锤通常由铅制成。英语中自14世纪开始使用,最初指铅锤,后引申为测量垂直度的动作及完全垂直的状态。
noun
❶ 铅锤,一种用于测量垂直度的金属重物,常悬挂在绳子上,用于建筑或木工中确保墙面或结构完全垂直。
“The carpenter used a plumb to check if the wall was straight.”
(木匠用铅锤检查墙壁是否垂直。)
“A plumb is essential for accurate construction work.”
(铅锤对于精确的建筑工作至关重要。)
verb
❶ 测量垂直度,用铅锤检查某物是否完全垂直;也比喻深入探究或彻底了解某事。
“She plumbed the wall to ensure it was perfectly straight.”
(她用铅锤测量墙壁,确保它完全垂直。)
“The book plumbs the depths of human psychology.”
(这本书深入探究了人类心理的深度。)
adjective
❶ 完全垂直的,指某物与地面或基准线成直角;也用于强调完全或绝对的状态。
“The tower stands plumb against the skyline.”
(塔楼完全垂直地矗立在天际线上。)
“Make sure the post is plumb before securing it.”
(在固定柱子之前,确保它是完全垂直的。)
adverb
❶ 完全地,彻底地,用于强调程度或状态,通常用于非正式场合。
“He was plumb tired after working all day.”
(工作了一整天后,他完全累坏了。)
“She plumb forgot about the meeting.”
(她完全忘记了会议。)
常见短语
plumb the depths — 深入探究或体验某事的极端或深刻层面,通常用于形容情感、知识或经历的深度。
“The novel plumbs the depths of human despair.”
(这部小说深入探究了人类绝望的深度。)
out of plumb — 指某物不垂直或不平衡,常用于建筑或工程中描述偏离垂直状态的情况。
“The old house was slightly out of plumb due to years of settling.”
(由于多年的沉降,老房子有点不垂直了。)