plumber
gb/plˈʌmɚ/ us/plˈʌmɚ/
A2
English
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
role
1
person who installs and repairs pipes
A person whose job is to fix water pipes and toilets.
Usage pattern:
a plumber; call [a plumber]; [someone] is a plumber
Common mistake:
Spelling: plumber (silent b), not *plummer*.
Synonyms
plumbing contractor (Often refers to a business that provides plumbing services, not just one worker.)
|
pipefitter (More industrial and specialized; not usually for household plumbing.)
Collocations
call a plumber
|hire a plumber
|licensed plumber
|local plumber
|emergency plumber
|plumber's bill
|plumber's van
|plumbing problem
|fix a leak
|unclog a drain
Themes
jobs
|home
|repairs
|daily_life
Examples
- We called a plumber to fix the leaking pipe under the sink.
- The plumber installed a new shower and replaced the old valves.
- An emergency plumber came out at midnight when the toilet overflowed.
Learner examples
- The plumber fixed our toilet.
- I need to call a plumber.
Noun
informal
C1
role
2
person who stops information leaks
A person who tries to stop secret information from leaking out.
Usage pattern:
a plumber; the [organization]'s plumbers
Common mistake:
This meaning is figurative and context-dependent; it does not refer to actual plumbing.
Synonyms
fixer (More general; not specifically about information leaks.)
|
troubleshooter (Often neutral and businesslike; not necessarily secretive.)
Collocations
political plumbers
|party plumbers
|stop the leaks
|plug leaks
|internal investigation
|damage control
Themes
politics
|workplace
|media
Examples
- After the documents were leaked, the campaign brought in a team of “plumbers” to find the source.
- The company’s plumbers focused on tightening security and tracking who had access to the files.
Grammar
Dictionary form
plumber
IPA
GB/plˈʌmɚ/
US/plˈʌmɚ/
Syllables & stress
plumb - er (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (plumb)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: plumber
- Plural: plumbers
Word family
Expressions
master plumber
1/mˈæstɚ plˈʌmɚ/
fixed phrase
technical
fully qualified senior plumber
A plumber with the highest qualification and license.
Examples
- A master plumber signed off on the work to meet code requirements.
- The company employs two master plumbers to supervise the crews.
plumber's crack
1/plˈʌmɚz kɹˈæk/
fixed phrase
slang
buttocks showing above waistband
When the back of your trousers is low and part of your buttocks shows.
Examples
- He bent down to pick up the box and accidentally showed plumber's crack.
- Wear a longer shirt if you don’t want plumber's crack when you kneel.
plumber's putty
1/plˈʌmɚz pˈʌti/
fixed phrase
technical
sealant putty for plumbing fixtures
A soft material used to seal around a sink or drain.
Examples
- She rolled plumber's putty into a thin rope and pressed it under the drain flange.
- The sink stopped leaking after we replaced the old plumber's putty.
plumber's snake
1/plˈʌmɚz snˈeɪk/
fixed phrase
tool for clearing blocked drains
A long tool used to remove something stuck in a pipe.
Examples
- The plumber used a plumber's snake to clear the kitchen drain.
- If the plunger doesn’t work, you may need a plumber's snake.
plumber's tape
1/plˈʌmɚz tˈeɪp/
fixed phrase
technical
thread-sealing tape for pipe joints
A special tape used to stop leaks where pipes connect.
Examples
- Wrap plumber's tape around the threads before you screw the pipe in.
- The leak stopped after he added plumber's tape and tightened the fitting.