plumbing

noun

plumb·​ing ˈplə-miŋ How to pronounce plumbing (audio)
1
: the act of using a plumb
2
: a plumber's occupation or trade
3
a
: the apparatus (such as pipes and fixtures) concerned in the distribution and use of water in a building
b
: an internal system that resembles plumbing
especially : one consisting of conduits or channels for conveying fluids

Example Sentences

The house has old plumbing.
Recent Examples on the Web Not having to rebuild the plumbing with every new application has been one of the promises of ROS, though. IEEE Spectrum, 15 May 2023 The first will focus on refurbishing 16 historic structures, including interior repairs and upgrades to mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems, according to the NPS. Kate Armanini, BostonGlobe.com, 5 Apr. 2023 Smelted iron is the main component of steel, used in construction, vehicles, furniture, plumbing, computers, energy infrastructure and weapons — including the shells being forged in the United States for use in artillery across Ukraine. Finbarr O’reilly, New York Times, 29 Mar. 2023 View Photos On top of that, the engine in the 164S, with its chromed nest-of-vipers intake plumbing, is the best-looking powerplant to appear since Ford stuffed Yamaha's V-6 in the SHO. John Phillips, Car and Driver, 10 Mar. 2023 Daniel Moody, 19, was recruited to run plumbing for the plant after graduating from a Memphis high school in 2021. Collin Binkley, Anchorage Daily News, 9 Mar. 2023 Automation is the new fabric for digital businesses and the new plumbing for systematic digitization. Forrester, Forbes, 8 Mar. 2023 A lot of the heavy lifting has been done — the frame’s been built and there’s power and plumbing in place — but there are no doors, floors, or furniture. James Vincent, The Verge, 8 Mar. 2023 As Tijuana’s plumbing has continued to crumble, beach closures across the South Bay last year soared to their highest total in more than a decade, according to data from the San Diego County Department of Environmental Health and Quality. San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Feb. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'plumbing.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of plumbing was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near plumbing

Cite this Entry

“Plumbing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plumbing. Accessed 28 May. 2023.

Kids Definition

plumbing

noun
plumb·​ing ˈpləm-iŋ How to pronounce plumbing (audio)
1
: a plumber's work
2
: a system of pipes for supplying and carrying off water in a building
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!