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Plumb vs Flush - What's the difference?

plumb | flush | Related terms |

In lang=en terms the difference between plumb and flush

is that plumb is to fall or sink like a plummet while flush is a hand consisting of all cards with the same suit.

In intransitive terms the difference between plumb and flush

is that plumb is to work as a plumber while flush is to become suffused with reddish color due to embarrassment, excitement, overheating, or other systemic disturbance, to blush.

As adjectives the difference between plumb and flush

is that plumb is truly vertical, as indicated by a plumb line while flush is smooth, even, aligned; not sticking out.

As nouns the difference between plumb and flush

is that plumb is a little mass of lead, or the like, attached to a line, and used by builders, etc., to indicate a vertical direction while flush is a group of birds that have suddenly started up from undergrowth, trees etc.

As verbs the difference between plumb and flush

is that plumb is to determine the depth, generally of a liquid; to sound while flush is to cause to take flight from concealment.

As an adverb plumb

is in a vertical direction; perpendicularly.

plumb

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • truly vertical, as indicated by a plumb line
  • (cricket) Describing an LBW where the batsman is hit on the pads directly in front of his wicket and should be given out.
  • Synonyms

    * (truly vertical) perpendicular

    Adverb

    (-)
  • In a vertical direction; perpendicularly.
  • * Milton
  • Plumb down he falls.
  • (informal) Squarely, directly; completely.
  • It hit him plumb in the middle of his face.
    Years ago the well plumb dried out, not a drop of water in there since.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A little mass of lead, or the like, attached to a line, and used by builders, etc., to indicate a vertical direction.
  • (nautical) A weight on the end of a long line, used by sailors to determine the depth of water.
  • Synonyms

    * (construction) plummet, plumb bob (UK), plumb line (US)

    Derived terms

    * plumb bob * off plumb * out of plumb * plumb line * plumb rule

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To determine the depth, generally of a liquid; to sound.
  • To attach to a water supply and drain.
  • To think about or explore in depth, to get to the bottom of, especially to plumb the depths of .
  • To use a plumb bob as a measuring or aligning tool.
  • To accurately align vertically or horizontally.
  • (dated) To seal something with lead.
  • To work as a plumber.
  • (rare) To fall or sink like a plummet.
  • (US, colloquial, figuratively, obsolete) To trace a road or track; to follow it to its end.
  • (nautical) To position vertically above or below.
  • flush

    English

    (wikipedia flush)

    Etymology 1

    (etyl)

    Noun

    (es)
  • A group of birds that have suddenly started up from undergrowth, trees etc.
  • * 1596 , (Edmund Spenser), The Faerie Queene , V.2:
  • As when a Faulcon hath with nimble flight / Flowne at a flush of Ducks foreby the brooke […].

    Verb

    (es)
  • To cause to take flight from concealment.
  • The hunters flushed the tiger from the canebrake.
  • To take suddenly to flight, especially from cover.
  • A covey of quail flushed from the undergrowth.
  • * W. Browne
  • flushing from one spray unto another

    Etymology 2

    Same as according to the American Heritage Dictionary

    Adjective

    (er)
  • smooth, even, aligned; not sticking out.
  • Sand down the excess until it is flush with the surface.
  • wealthy or well off.
  • He just got a bonus so he's flush today.
  • (typography) Short for flush left and right ; a body of text aligned with both its left and right margins.
  • Full of vigour; fresh; glowing; bright.
  • * Shakespeare
  • With all his crimes broad blown, as flush as May.
  • Affluent; abounding; well furnished or suppled; hence, liberal; prodigal.
  • * Arbuthnot
  • Lord Strut was not very flush in ready.
    Synonyms
    * (typography) double-clean, flush left and right, forced, forced justified, force justified, justified
    Derived terms
    * flush left, flush right, flush left and right

    Etymology 3

    Probably from according to American Heritage Dictionary

    Noun

    (es)
  • A sudden flowing; a rush which fills or overflows, as of water for cleansing purposes.
  • * Ray
  • in manner of a wave or flush
  • Particularly, such a cleansing of a toilet.
  • A suffusion of the face with blood, as from fear, shame, modesty, or intensity of feeling of any kind; a blush; a glow.
  • * Tennyson
  • the flush of angered shame
  • Any tinge of red colour like that produced on the cheeks by a sudden rush of blood.
  • the flush''' on the side of a peach; the '''flush on the clouds at sunset
  • A sudden flood or rush of feeling; a thrill of excitement, animation, etc.
  • a flush of joy

    Verb

    (es)
  • To cleanse by flooding with generous quantities of a fluid.
  • Flush the injury with plenty of water.
  • Particularly, to cleanse a toilet by introducing a large amount of water.
  • To become suffused with reddish color due to embarrassment, excitement, overheating, or other systemic disturbance, to blush.
  • The damsel flushed at the scoundrel's suggestion.
  • To cause to blush.
  • * John Gay
  • Nor flush with shame the passing virgin's cheek.
  • * Keats
  • Sudden a thought came like a full-blown rose, / Flushing his brow.
  • * 1925 , Fruit of the Flower , by
  • "Who plants a seed begets a bud, -- Extract of that same root; -- Why marvel at the hectic blood -- That flushes this wild fruit?"
  • To cause to be full; to flood; to overflow; to overwhelm with water.
  • to flush the meadows
  • To excite, inflame.
  • * South
  • such things as can only feed his pride and flush his ambition
  • (of a toilet) To be cleansed by being flooded with generous quantities of water.
  • There must be somebody home: I just heard the toilet flushing .
  • (computing) To clear (a buffer) of its contents.
  • To flow and spread suddenly; to rush.
  • Blood flushes into the face.
  • * Boyle
  • the flushing noise of many waters
  • To show red; to shine suddenly; to glow.
  • * Milton
  • In her cheek, distemper flushing glowed.
  • (masonry) To fill in (joints); to point the level; to make them flush.
  • Usage notes
    In sense “turn red with embarrassment”, (blush) is more common. More finely, in indicating the actual change, blush'' is more common – “He blushed with embarrassment” – but in indicating state, ''flushed is also common – “He was flushed with excitement”.
    Synonyms
    * (turn red with embarrassment) blush

    Etymology 4

    Probably from (etyl) , cognate with flux

    Noun

    (es)
  • (poker) A hand consisting of all cards with the same suit.
  • Derived terms
    * busted flush * royal flush * straight flush