plumbing

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈplʌmɪŋ/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ʌmɪŋ

plumbing (countable and uncountable, plural plumbings)

1. The pipes, together with the joints, tanks, stopcocks, taps, and other fixtures of a water, gas, or sewage system in a house or other building.

   Water was dripping from the ceiling, so we figured there was a problem with the plumbing.

2. The trade or occupation of a plumber.
3. (informal) A system of vessels or ducts in the human body, especially the genitourinary system.

   My plumbing was playing up, so I had to see the doctor.

   • 1978 December 9, Nancy Walker, “Sexism and Racism at GCN?”, in Gay Community News, volume 6, number 20, page 10:

     I am sure that there are those who dislike me […] but as a person, not for the sake of my plumbing.

   • 2017 June 30, Jocelyn Samara D., Rain (webcomic), Comic 966 - Déjà vu:

     ‹Why did I always think the ladies' room would be less gross? How do you girls freaking miss with your plumbing!?›

4. (informal, figurative) Practical, concrete work serving to support other work.

   This is not scientific research as such: it's just plumbing.

5. (countable) A Murasugi sum where each disk summed along has its boundary subdivided into four segments.

• (genitourinary system): waterworks (informal)

• plumb
• plumber

• waterworks