plumbing
PLUH-mihng
Plumbing (noun) means the system of pipes and fixtures that carry water and waste through a building. Example: “The old house needed all its plumbing replaced.”
noun
1
The system of pipes and fixtures that carry water and waste through a building.
"Water was dripping from the ceiling, so we figured there was a problem with the plumbing."
"The old house needed all its plumbing replaced."
2
The trade or work of a plumber.
"He took a course in plumbing after leaving school."
How to use plumbing
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe pipes and water systems in a building, or the trade of installing and fixing them.
Common pairings
plumbing system
do the plumbing
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Word forms
- Plural
- plumbings
Fill the gap
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The old house needed all its _____ replaced.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for plumbing
See all rhymes for plumbing →Frequently asked questions
What does “plumbing” mean?
The word “plumbing” means the system of pipes and fixtures that carry water and waste through a building. In plain terms, the pipes and water systems in a building, or the trade of installing and fixing them.
How do you pronounce “plumbing”?
“Plumbing” is pronounced PLUH-mihng (/ˈplʌmɪŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “plumbing” in a sentence?
Here is “plumbing” used in a sentence: “The old house needed all its plumbing replaced.”
What part of speech is “plumbing”?
“Plumbing” is a noun.
Is “plumbing” a common word?
“Plumbing” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.
How many meanings does “plumbing” have?
“Plumbing” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the system of pipes and fixtures that carry water and waste through a building.
What is the difference between plumbing and piping?
Plumbing refers to the entire system of pipes and fixtures that carry water and waste through a building, including sinks, toilets, and drains, while piping refers more narrowly to the pipes themselves as physical tubing.
Does plumbing refer to a job as well as pipes?
Yes, plumbing also refers to the trade or work of a plumber, as in "he studied plumbing" or "a career in plumbing," distinct from the physical system of pipes and fixtures in a building.
Why is plumbing used as an uncountable noun?
Plumbing describes a whole system or trade rather than individual countable items, similar to words like "wiring" or "heating," so it is treated as an uncountable noun even though it refers to many pipes and fixtures collectively.
