plomo

Spanish

Chemical element
Pb
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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); 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]
• Rhymes: -omo

Noun

plomo m (plural plomos)

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

Derived terms

• aplomar
• desplomar
• con pies de plomo

Related terms

• plomero
• plomizo
• plomoso
• plúmbeo
• aplomo

Further reading

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