plumber

Everyday

A plumber is a person whose job is to fit and repair water pipes, taps, toilets, sinks and heating systems. tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life you call a plumber when a pipe leaks, a toilet is blocked or the boiler breaks. In maths, plumbers' bills are a common problem: call-out fee + hours × rate. In safety, turn off the water at the stopcock while waiting for the plumber. Phrases: call a plumber, emergency plumber.

Examples

• We called a plumber because the kitchen tap was leaking. tree →
• The plumber fixed our blocked toilet. tree →
• The plumber charges £50 to come plus £30 an hour; 2 hours cost £110. tree →
• The plumber put in a new boiler. tree →
• Dad tried to fix the pipe himself, then called a plumber. tree →
• A plumber needs a van full of tools and pipes. tree →

Note

Countable noun. The b is silent: say PLUM-er. The work is called «plumbing». In maths, total cost = fixed fee + (rate × hours).