plummet
pronunciation
How to pronounce plummet in British English:
UK [ˈplʌmɪt]
How to pronounce plummet in American English:
US [ˈplʌmɪt]
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- Noun:
- the metal bob of a plumb line
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- Verb:
- drop sharply
Word Origin
- plummet
- plummet: see plumb
- plummet (n.)
- late 14c., "ball of lead, plumb of a bob-line," from Old French plomet "graphite, lead; plummet, sounding lead," diminutive of plom "sounding lead" (see plumb (n.)).
- plummet (v.)
- 1620s, "to fathom, take soundings," from plummet (n.). Meaning "to fall rapidly" first recorded 1933, perhaps originally among aviators. Related: Plummeted; plummeting.
Example
- 1. As the chart above shows , over-supply of capital caused returns to plummet in 2002 and 2003 .
- 2. If that happens , the price of the bond would plummet .
- 3. Chinese rare earth magnet makers have seen orders plummet this year .
- 4. Wider economic ills in europe have given investors further pause , causing european demand for solar panels to plummet .
- 5. The only way to clear this capacity is either to wait a very long time for the economy to catch up , or for prices to plummet .