plumb
[verb]
Synonyms:
- delve, explore, fathom, gauge, go into, penetrate, probe, unravel
[noun]
Synonyms:
- weight, lead, plumb bob, plummet
[adverb]
Synonyms:
- exactly, bang, precisely, slap, spot-on (Brit. informal)

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

I. plumb¹ /plʌm/ verb [transitive]
[Date: 1500-1600; Origin: plumb 'metal weight on a plumb line' (13-21 centuries), from Old French plomb 'lead', from Latin plumbum]

1. plumb the depths (of despair/misery/bad taste etc) to feel an unpleasant emotion in a very extreme way, or to behave in a way that is extremely unpleasant or morally bad:
When his wife left him, Matt plumbed the very depths of despair.
That night they plumbed the depths of treachery and horror, and murdered the king as he slept.

2. to succeed in understanding something completely Synonym : fathom:
Psychologists try to plumb the deepest mysteries of the human psyche.
plumb something ↔ in phrasal verb
to connect a piece of equipment such as a washing machine to the water supply

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

II. plumb² adverb

1. [always + adverb/preposition] informal exactly:
The bullet hit him plumb between the eyes.

2. American English informal completely – often used humorously:
The whole idea sounds plumb crazy to me.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

III. plumb³ adjective technical

1. exactly upright or level

2. out of plumb not exactly upright or level

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲