plumb line
Weighted string tool
A plumb line is a cord with a weight attached, used to determine true vertical.
Builders and surveyors hang it freely, letting gravity pull the weight straight down to check whether walls or posts are perfectly upright: He held the plumb line against the doorframe.
Figuratively, a plumb line can be any standard of moral or ethical straightness.
At right angles
- uprightVertical or morally sound
- verticalAt right angles groundward
- trueAccurate or loyal
- straightNot curved or crooked
aligned · erect · orthogonal · right-angle · elevation · height · drop · gravitational
Accuracy of measurement
- accuracyDegree of correctness
- calibrationAdjusting for measurement accuracy
- referenceDirecting attention elsewhere
- standardLevel of quality accepted
benchmark · gauge · tolerance · deviation · error · trueness · exactness · surveying
Short vertical movement
- stringSlender fiber or character sequence
- cordFlexible twisted strand
- weightMeasure of heaviness
- leadDense metal, symbol Pb
sinker · level · square · straightedge · surveyor · carpenter · mason · bricklayer
Depth measurement technique
- fathomNautical depth unit
- depthDistance below surface
- seafloorOcean's solid base
- navigationDetermining position and course
sailor · mariner · ship · anchor · maritime · ocean · harbor · channel
perpendicular
At right angles
straight · aligned · erect · orthogonal · right-angle · elevation · height · drop · gravitational · downward
precision
Accuracy of measurement
- accuracyDegree of correctness
- calibrationAdjusting for measurement accuracy
- referenceDirecting attention elsewhere
standard · benchmark · gauge · tolerance · deviation · error · trueness · exactness · surveying · sounding
bob
Short vertical movement
lead · sinker · level · square · straightedge · surveyor · carpenter · mason · bricklayer · builder
sounding
Depth measurement technique
navigation · sailor · mariner · ship · anchor · maritime · ocean · harbor · channel · shoal
foundation
Underlying support structure
- wallVertical enclosing structure
- framingStructural or contextual shaping
- masonryBuilding with mortared blocks
bricklaying · doorframe · window · column · pillar · corner · layout · building · structure · carpentry
moral
Concerning right conduct
- standardLevel of quality accepted
- truthAccordance with reality
- righteousnessMoral correctness or virtue
judgment · criterion · measure · guide · principle · integrity · rectitude · scripture · biblical · prophetic
- Roman Surveyingdecumanus, cadastre, land division, libra, limes
- linesparallel lines, intersecting lines, dotted, dashed, curved
- measuring toolstape measure, ruler, yardstick, tablespoon, teaspoon
- vertical thingspole, post, pillar, flagpole, lamppost
- masonrymason, brick, bricks, stone, mortar
- depth measurementdepth, sounding, depth sensor, depth gauge, depth chart
plumb linelevel
Horizontal or uniform position
spirit level · horizontal line · water level · horizon line · bubble level
plumb lineoff-kilter
Unbalanced or awry
crooked · askew · tilted · crooked line · leaning
line, lineage, align, plumb, plumbing, plummet, plumber, aplomb, plumbers