plomo

Catalan

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): (Central) [ˈplo.mu]
• IPA^(key): (Balearic, Valencian) [ˈplo.mo]

Etymology 1

Verb

plomo

1. first-person singular present indicative of plomar (“to pluck”)

Etymology 2

Verb

plomo

1. first-person singular present indicative of plomar (“to seal with lead”)

Spanish

Chemical element
Pb
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Next: bismuto (Bi)

Etymology

From Latin plumbum, either taken as an early semi-learned term (Latin pl- normally becomes ll- in inherited Spanish), or alternatively, possibly borrowed from medieval Catalan (see plom) or Aragonese, or even Mozarabic (as most of the lead in Spain came from Almería in Andalusia), although the latter seems unlikely as the Mozarabic result should be *plombo; it is also not impossible that a conservative pronunciation was maintained among the upper classes. The Latin term is related to Ancient Greek μόλυβδος (mólubdos, “lead”), possibly from Etruscan. See also Portuguese chumbo, which was inherited and underwent the regular sound change, and prumo, which is semi-learned. Cognate with English plumb.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈplomo/ [ˈplo.mo]

• Audio:

  (file)

• Rhymes: -omo
• Syllabification: plo‧mo

Noun

plomo m (plural plomos)

1. lead (heavy, pliable, inelastic metal)
2. grey (colour between white and black)
3. shot, pellet
4. plumb line
5. fuse
6. (informal) bore, drag (something boring or dull)

Derived terms

• aplomar
• caer a plomo
• con pies de plomo
• desplomar
• pájaro plomo

 

Related terms

• aplomo
• plomero
• plomizo
• plomoso
• plúmbeo

 

Further reading

• “plomo”, in Diccionario de la lengua española, Vigésima tercera edición, Real Academia Española, 2014