plumb line
nounDefinition of plumb line
1
: a line (as of cord) that has at one end a weight (such as a plumb bob) and is used especially to determine verticality
2
: a line directed to the center of gravity of the earth : a vertical line
Examples of plumb line in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Then gently unroll the paper strips onto the wall, working your way from top to bottom, and keeping the edge of the paper aligned with the plumb line. — Daniel Bortz, sacbee, "Four home-improvement jobs you can knock out," 15 June 2018 My father’s simple existence has been like a horizontal plumb line for me, one to gauge myself against. — R. Daniel Foster, WSJ, "A Father’s Lesson: Keep the Spirit Level," 14 June 2018 Thankfully the technology used today has advanced beyond dangling plumb lines over the side of the ship. — Kyle Frischkorn, Smithsonian, "Why The First Complete Map of the Ocean Floor Is Stirring Controversial Waters," 13 July 2017These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'plumb line.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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