plummet

views updated Jun 11 2018

plum·met / ˈpləmit/ • v. (-met·ed, -met·ing) [intr.] fall or drop straight down at high speed: a climber was killed when he plummeted 300 feet down an icy gully. ∎  decrease rapidly in value or amount: hardware sales plummeted.• n. 1. a steep and rapid fall or drop.2. a plumb or plumb line.

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English

plummet

views updated May 17 2018

plummet lead weight attached to a line. XIV. ME. plomet — OF. plommet, plombet, dim. of plomb lead; see PLUMB, -ET.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD

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