好词典

plumb

UK //plʌm//US //plʌm//

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。)

同义词:plumb bob, plummet, lead weight

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。)

同义词:measure, explore, probe

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。)

同义词:vertical, perfectly straight, absolute

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。)

同义词:completely, totally, utterly

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。)