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Plumbum vs. Lead — What's the Difference?

By Tayyaba Rehman & Fiza Rafique — Updated on May 3, 2024
"Plumbum" is the Latin name for lead, a heavy metal, while "lead" is the common English term derived from "plumbum."
Plumbum vs. Lead — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Plumbum and Lead

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Key Differences

"Plumbum" is the historical Latin term used to describe the element known today as lead. In contrast, "lead" is the contemporary English term universally recognized and used in everyday language.
The term "plumbum" gave rise to various English words related to the metal's uses, such as "plumber" and "plumb line," whereas "lead" is used more generally to refer to the metal in all contexts, including scientific, industrial, and literary.
In the scientific community, "plumbum" is symbolized as Pb on the periodic table, reflecting its Latin origins. On the other hand, "lead" is what most people refer to when discussing this element in educational, environmental, and health-related contexts.
The usage of "plumbum" today is largely confined to historical texts, scholarly discussions on Latin, and in the context of explaining the etymology of certain English words. Meanwhile, "lead" is employed in a wide array of settings, from academic research to everyday conversation.
Despite their different usages, both terms represent the same chemical element, essential in various applications such as batteries, ammunition, and radiation shielding, but they highlight different aspects of its linguistic and cultural significance.
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Comparison Chart

Origin

Latin
English

Modern Usage

Rare, mostly academic
Common, across all contexts

Derived Terms

Plumber, plumb line
Lead poisoning, lead-free

Symbol

Pb (reflecting "Plumbum")
Pb (but referred to as "lead")

Contextual Usage

Historical, academic
Environmental, health, industrial, etc.

Compare with Definitions

Plumbum

Rarely used in modern language, reserved for specific contexts.
Scholars might reference plumbum in discussions of ancient texts.

Lead

Used in radiation shielding and ammunition.
Lead vests are used for protection during X-ray procedures.

Plumbum

The Latin term for the chemical element lead.
Ancient Romans used plumbum for their extensive plumbing systems.

Lead

Commonly found in nature and used in various applications.
Lead pipes were once standard in older homes.

Plumbum

Symbolizes lead in the periodic table as Pb.
Pb, standing for plumbum, denotes lead on the periodic chart.

Lead

A soft, malleable heavy metal.
Lead is often used in battery production.

Plumbum

Historically significant in the development of materials.
Plumbum was commonly used in Roman artifacts.

Lead

Represents the element with the symbol Pb.
Lead, symbolized as Pb, is a critical material in many industries.

Plumbum

A root word for modern terms related to lead usage.
The profession plumber originates from plumbum.

Lead

Toxic to humans and animals if ingested.
Lead poisoning is a serious health risk in contaminated areas.

Plumbum

The technical name of lead. See Lead.

Lead

Lead is a chemical element with the symbol Pb (from the Latin plumbum) and atomic number 82. It is a heavy metal that is denser than most common materials.

Lead

Cause (a person or animal) to go with one by holding them by the hand, a halter, a rope, etc. while moving forward
She emerged leading a bay horse

Lead

Be a route or means of access to a particular place or in a particular direction
A farm track led off to the left
The door led to a long hallway

Lead

Be in charge or command of
A military delegation was led by the Chief of Staff

Lead

Have the advantage over competitors in a race or game
He followed up with a break of 105 to lead 3-0
The Wantage jockey was leading the field

Lead

Have or experience (a particular way of life)
She's led a completely sheltered life

Lead

The initiative in an action; an example for others to follow
Britain is now taking the lead in environmental policies

Lead

A position of advantage in a contest; first place
The team burst into life and took the lead
They were beaten 5-3 after twice being in the lead

Lead

The chief part in a play or film
She had the lead in a new film
The lead role

Lead

A strap or cord for restraining and guiding a dog or other domestic animal
The dog is our constant walking companion and is always kept on a lead

Lead

A wire that conveys electric current from a source to an appliance, or that connects two points of a circuit together.

Lead

The distance advanced by a screw in one turn.

Lead

An artificial watercourse leading to a mill.

Lead

A soft, heavy, ductile bluish-grey metal, the chemical element of atomic number 82. It has been used in roofing, plumbing, ammunition, storage batteries, radiation shields, etc., and its compounds have been used in crystal glass, as an anti-knock agent in petrol, and (formerly) in paints.

Lead

An item or implement made of lead.

Lead

Graphite used as the part of a pencil that makes a mark
Scrawls done with a bit of pencil lead

Lead

A blank space between lines of print.

Lead

To show the way to by going in advance
The host led us to our table.

Lead

To guide or direct in a course
Lead a horse by the halter.

Lead

To serve as a route for; take
The path led them to a cemetery.

Lead

To be a channel or conduit for (water or electricity, for example).

Lead

To guide the behavior or opinion of; induce
Led us to believe otherwise.

Lead

To direct the performance or activities of
Lead an orchestra.

Lead

To inspire the conduct of
Led the nation in its crisis.

Lead

To play a principal or guiding role in
Lead a discussion.
Led the antiwar movement.

Lead

To go or be at the head of
The queen led the procession. My name led the list.

Lead

To be ahead of
Led the runner-up by three strides.

Lead

To be foremost in or among
Led the field in nuclear research.
Led her teammates in free throws.

Lead

To pass or go through; live
Lead an independent life.

Lead

To begin or open with, as in games
Led an ace.

Lead

To guide (a partner) in dancing.

Lead

To aim in front of (a moving target).

Lead

(Sports) To pass a ball or puck ahead of (a moving teammate) so that the player can receive the pass without changing direction or losing speed.

Lead

To be first; be ahead.

Lead

To go first as a guide.

Lead

To act as commander, director, or guide.

Lead

To afford a passage, course, or route
A road that leads over the mountains.
A door leading to the pantry.

Lead

To tend toward a certain goal or result
A remark that led to further discussion.
Policies that led to disaster.

Lead

To make the initial play, as in a game or contest.

Lead

To begin a presentation or account in a given way
The announcer led with the day's top stories.

Lead

To guide a dance partner.

Lead

To start a dance step on a specified foot.

Lead

(Baseball) To advance or stand a few paces away from one's base toward the next while the pitcher prepares to deliver a pitch. Used of a base runner.

Lead

(Sports) To begin an attack in boxing with a specified hand or punch
Led with a right to the body.

Lead

To cover, line, weight, or fill with lead.

Lead

(Printing) To provide space between (lines of type) with leads.

Lead

To secure (window glass) with leads.

Lead

To treat with lead or a lead compound
Leaded gasoline.
Leaded paint.

Lead

The first or foremost position
A racer in the lead.

Lead

One occupying such a position; a leader.

Lead

The initiative
Took the lead in setting the pace of the project.

Lead

The margin by which one holds a position of advantage or superiority
Held a lead of nine points at the half.

Lead

Information pointing toward a possible solution; a clue
Followed a promising lead in the murder case.

Lead

An indication of potential opportunity; a tip
A good lead for a job.

Lead

Command; leadership
Took over the lead of the company.

Lead

An example; a precedent
Followed his sister's lead in running for office.

Lead

The principal role in a film, play, show, or other scripted production.

Lead

The person playing such a role.

Lead

The introductory portion of a news story, especially the first sentence.

Lead

An important, usually prominently displayed news story.

Lead

The first play.

Lead

The prerogative or turn to make the first play
The lead passes to the player on the left.

Lead

A card played first in a round.

Lead

(Baseball) An amount of space that a base runner moves or stands away from one base in the direction of the next while the pitcher prepares to deliver a pitch.

Lead

(Sports) A blow in boxing that begins a series or exchange of punches.

Lead

A leash.

Lead

A deposit of gold ore in an old riverbed.

Lead

See lode.

Lead

(Electronics) A conductor by which one circuit element is electrically connected to another.

Lead

(Nautical) The direction in which a line runs.

Lead

The distance aimed in front of a moving target.

Lead

A channel of open water created by a break in a mass of ice.

Lead

Symbol Pb A soft, malleable, ductile, bluish-white, dense metallic element, extracted chiefly from galena and used in containers and pipes for corrosives, solder and type metal, bullets, radiation shielding, paints, glass, storage batteries, and antiknock compounds. Atomic number 82; atomic weight 207.2; melting point 327.5°C; boiling point 1,749°C; specific gravity 11.35; valence 2, 4. See Periodic Table.

Lead

Any of various, often graphitic compositions used as the writing substance in pencils.

Lead

A thin stick of such material.

Lead

Bullets from or for firearms; shot
Pumped the target full of lead.

Lead

A lead weight suspended by a line, used to make soundings.

Lead

(Printing) A thin strip of metal used to separate lines of type.

Lead

Strips of lead used to hold the panes of a window.

Lead

Chiefly British A flat roof covered with sheets of lead.

Lead

First or foremost
The lead leg on a surfboard.

Lead

Most important
The lead author of a research paper.

Lead

(uncountable) A heavy, pliable, inelastic metal element, having a bright, bluish color, but easily tarnished; both malleable and ductile, though with little tenacity. It is easily fusible, forms alloys with other metals, and is an ingredient of solder and type metal. Atomic number 82, symbol Pb (from Latin plumbum).

Lead

A plummet or mass of lead attached to a line, used in sounding depth at sea or (dated) to estimate velocity in knots.

Lead

A thin strip of type metal, used to separate lines of type in printing.

Lead

Vertical space in advance of a row or between rows of text. Also known as leading.
This copy has too much lead; I prefer less space between the lines.

Lead

Sheets or plates of lead used as a covering for roofs.

Lead

(plural leads) A roof covered with lead sheets or terne plates.

Lead

(countable) A thin cylinder of graphite used in pencils. Category:en:Carbon

Lead

(slang) bullets; ammunition.
They pumped him full of lead.

Lead

(countable) The act of leading or conducting; guidance; direction, course
To take the lead
To be under the lead of another

Lead

(countable) Precedence; advance position; also, the measure of precedence; the state of being ahead in a race; the highest score in a game in an incomplete game.
The white horse had the lead.
To be in the lead
She lost the lead.
Smith managed to extend her lead over the second place to half a second.

Lead

An insulated metallic wire for electrical devices and equipment.

Lead

(baseball) The situation where a runner steps away from a base while waiting for the pitch to be thrown.
The runner took his lead from first.

Lead

The act or right of playing first in a game or round; the card suit, or piece, so played
Your partner has the lead

Lead

The main role in a play or film; the lead role.

Lead

(acting) The actor who plays the main role; lead actor.

Lead

(business) The person in charge of a project or a work shift etc.
John is the development lead on this software product.

Lead

(countable) A channel of open water in an ice field.

Lead

A lode.

Lead

(nautical) The course of a rope from end to end.

Lead

A rope, leather strap, or similar device with which to lead an animal; a leash

Lead

In a steam engine, the width of port opening which is uncovered by the valve, for the admission or release of steam, at the instant when the piston is at end of its stroke.

Lead

(civil engineering) The distance of haul, as from a cutting to an embankment.

Lead

(horology) The action of a tooth, such as a tooth of a wheel, in impelling another tooth or a pallet.

Lead

Information obtained by a detective or police officer that allows him or her to discover further details about a crime or incident.
The police have a couple of leads they will follow to solve the case.

Lead

(marketing) Potential opportunity for a sale or transaction, a potential customer.
Joe is a great addition to our sales team, he has numerous leads in the paper industry.

Lead

Information obtained by a news reporter about an issue or subject that allows him or her to discover more details.

Lead

(curling) The player who throws the first two rocks for a team.

Lead

(newspapers) A teaser; a lead-in; the start of a newspaper column, telling who, what, when, where, why and how. (Sometimes spelled as lede for this usage to avoid ambiguity.)

Lead

An important news story that appears on the front page of a newspaper or at the beginning of a news broadcast

Lead

(engineering) The axial distance a screw thread travels in one revolution. It is equal to the pitch times the number of starts.

Lead

(music) In a barbershop quartet, the person who sings the melody, usually the second tenor

Lead

(music) The announcement by one voice part of a theme to be repeated by the other parts.

Lead

(music) A mark or a short passage in one voice part, as of a canon, serving as a cue for the entrance of others.

Lead

(engineering) The excess above a right angle in the angle between two consecutive cranks, as of a compound engine, on the same shaft.

Lead

(electrical) The angle between the line joining the brushes of a continuous-current dynamo and the diameter symmetrical between the poles.

Lead

(electrical) The advance of the current phase in an alternating circuit beyond that of the electromotive force producing it.

Lead

(transitive) To cover, fill, or affect with lead.
Continuous firing leads the grooves of a rifle.

Lead

To place leads between the lines of.
To lead a page
Leaded matter

Lead

To guide or conduct.

Lead

To guide or conduct with the hand, or by means of some physical contact connection.
A father leads a child
A jockey leads a horse with a halter
A dog leads a blind man

Lead

To guide or conduct in a certain course, or to a certain place or end, by making the way known; to show the way, especially by going with or going in advance of, to lead a pupil; to guide somebody somewhere or to bring somebody somewhere by means of instructions.
The guide was able to lead the tourists through the jungle safely.

Lead

(figuratively): To direct; to counsel; to instruct
A good teacher should lead their students to the right answer.

Lead

To conduct or direct with authority; to have direction or charge of; to command, especially a military or business unit.
To lead a political party
To lead the search team

Lead

To guide or conduct oneself in, through, or along (a certain course); hence, to proceed in the way of; to follow the path or course of; to pass; to spend. Also, to cause (one) to proceed or follow in (a certain course).
The evidence leads me to believe he is guilty.

Lead

(intransitive) To guide or conduct, as by accompanying, going before, showing, influencing, directing with authority, etc.; to have precedence or preeminence; to be first or chief; — used in most of the senses of the transitive verb.

Lead

(heading) To begin, to be ahead.

Lead

(transitive) To go or to be in advance of; to precede; hence, to be foremost or chief among.
The big sloop led the fleet of yachts;
The Guards led the attack;
Demosthenes leads the orators of all ages

Lead

(intransitive) To lead off or out, to go first; to begin.

Lead

(intransitive) To be more advanced in technology or business than others.

Lead

(transitive) To draw or direct by influence, whether good or bad; to prevail on; to induce; to entice; to allure
To lead someone to a righteous cause

Lead

(intransitive) To tend or reach in a certain direction, or to a certain place.
The path leads to the mill;
Gambling leads to other vices

Lead

To produce (with to).
The shock led to a change in his behaviour.

Lead

Misspelling of led

Lead

(transitive) To live or experience (a particular way of life).

Lead

(not comparable) Foremost.
The contestants are all tied; no one has the lead position.

Lead

Main, principal, primary, first, chief, foremost.
The lead guitarist in band
The lead developer on a software project

Lead

One of the elements, a heavy, pliable, inelastic metal, having a bright, bluish color, but easily tarnished. It is both malleable and ductile, though with little tenacity, and is used for tubes, sheets, bullets, etc. Its specific gravity is 11.37. It is easily fusible (melting point 327.5° C), forms alloys with other metals, and is an ingredient of solder and type metal. Atomic number 82. Atomic weight, 207.2. Symbol Pb (L. Plumbum). It is chiefly obtained from the mineral galena, lead sulphide.

Lead

An article made of lead or an alloy of lead
I would have the tower two stories, and goodly leads upon the top.

Lead

A small cylinder of black lead or graphite, used in pencils.

Lead

The act of leading or conducting; guidance; direction; as, to take the lead; to be under the lead of another.
At the time I speak of, and having a momentary lead, . . . I am sure I did my country important service.

Lead

Precedence; advance position; also, the measure of precedence; as, the white horse had the lead; a lead of a boat's length, or of half a second.

Lead

The act or right of playing first in a game or round; the card suit, or piece, so played; as, your partner has the lead.

Lead

An open way in an ice field.

Lead

A lode.

Lead

The course of a rope from end to end.

Lead

The width of port opening which is uncovered by the valve, for the admission or release of steam, at the instant when the piston is at end of its stroke.

Lead

The distance of haul, as from a cutting to an embankment.

Lead

The action of a tooth, as a tooth of a wheel, in impelling another tooth or a pallet.

Lead

The announcement by one voice part of a theme to be repeated by the other parts.

Lead

In an internal-combustion engine, the distance, measured in actual length of piston stroke or the corresponding angular displacement of the crank, of the piston from the end of the compression stroke when ignition takes place; - called in full lead of the ignition. When ignition takes place during the working stroke the corresponding distance from the commencement of the stroke is called negative lead.

Lead

The excess above a right angle in the angle between two consecutive cranks, as of a compound engine, on the same shaft.

Lead

In spiral screw threads, worm wheels, or the like, the amount of advance of any point in the spiral for a complete turn.

Lead

The angle between the line joining the brushes of a continuous-current dynamo and the diameter symmetrical between the poles.

Lead

A role for a leading man or leading woman; also, one who plays such a role.

Lead

The first story in a newspaper or broadcast news program.

Lead

An electrical conductor, typically as an insulated wire or cable, connecting an electrical device to another device or to a power source, such as a conductor conveying electricity from a dynamo.

Lead

The distance a runner on base advances from one base toward the next before the pitch; as, the long lead he usually takes tends to distract the pitchers.

Lead

To cover, fill, or affect with lead; as, continuous firing leads the grooves of a rifle.

Lead

To place leads between the lines of; as, to lead a page; leaded matter.

Lead

To guide or conduct with the hand, or by means of some physical contact or connection; as, a father leads a child; a jockey leads a horse with a halter; a dog leads a blind man.
If a blind man lead a blind man, both fall down in the ditch.
They thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill.
In thy right hand lead with theeThe mountain nymph, sweet Liberty.

Lead

To guide or conduct in a certain course, or to a certain place or end, by making the way known; to show the way, esp. by going with or going in advance of.
The Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way.
He leadeth me beside the still waters.
This thought might lead me through the world's vain mask.Content, though blind, had I no better guide.

Lead

To go or to be in advance of; to precede; hence, to be foremost or chief among; as, the big sloop led the fleet of yachts; the Guards led the attack; Demosthenes leads the orators of all ages.
As Hesperus, that leads the sun his way.
And lo ! Ben Adhem's name led all the rest.

Lead

To draw or direct by influence, whether good or bad; to prevail on; to induce; to entice; to allure; as, to lead one to espouse a righteous cause.
He was driven by the necessities of the times, more than led by his own disposition, to any rigor of actions.
Silly women, laden with sins, led away by divers lusts.

Lead

To guide or conduct one's self in, through, or along (a certain course); hence, to proceed in the way of; to follow the path or course of; to pass; to spend. Also, to cause (one) to proceed or follow in (a certain course).
That we may lead a quiet and peaceable life.
Nor thou with shadowed hint confuseA life that leads melodious days.
You remember . . . the life he used to lead his wife and daughter.

Lead

To begin a game, round, or trick, with; as, to lead trumps; the double five was led.

Lead

To tend or reach in a certain direction, or to a certain place; as, the path leads to the mill; gambling leads to other vices.
The mountain foot that leads towards Mantua.

Lead

A soft heavy toxic malleable metallic element; bluish white when freshly cut but tarnishes readily to dull gray;
The children were playing with lead soldiers

Lead

An advantage held by a competitor in a race;
He took the lead at the last turn

Lead

Evidence pointing to a possible solution;
The police are following a promising lead
The trail led straight to the perpetrator

Lead

A position of leadership (especially in the phrase `take the lead');
He takes the lead in any group
We were just waiting for someone to take the lead
They didn't follow our lead

Lead

The angle between the direction a gun is aimed and the position of a moving target (correcting for the flight time of the missile)

Lead

The introductory section of a story;
It was an amusing lead-in to a very serious matter

Lead

An actor who plays a principal role

Lead

(baseball) the position taken by a base runner preparing to advance to the next base;
He took a long lead off first

Lead

An indication of potential opportunity;
He got a tip on the stock market
A good lead for a job

Lead

A news story of major importance

Lead

The timing of ignition relative to the position of the piston in an internal-combustion engine

Lead

Restraint consisting of a rope (or light chain) used to restrain an animal

Lead

Thin strip of metal used to separate lines of type in printing

Lead

Mixture of graphite with clay in different degrees of hardness; the marking substance in a pencil

Lead

A jumper that consists of a short piece of wire;
It was a tangle of jumper cables and clip leads

Lead

The playing of a card to start a trick in bridge;
The lead was in the dummy

Lead

Take somebody somewhere;
We lead him to our chief
Can you take me to the main entrance?
He conducted us to the palace

Lead

Result in;
The water left a mark on the silk dress
Her blood left a stain on the napkin

Lead

Tend to or result in;
This remark lead to further arguments among the guests

Lead

Travel in front of; go in advance of others;
The procession was headed by John

Lead

Cause to undertake a certain action;
Her greed led her to forge the checks

Lead

Stretch out over a distance, space, time, or scope; run or extend between two points or beyond a certain point;
Service runs all the way to Cranbury
His knowledge doesn't go very far
My memory extends back to my fourth year of life
The facts extend beyond a consideration of her personal assets

Lead

Be in charge of;
Who is heading this project?

Lead

Be ahead of others; be the first;
She topped her class every year

Lead

Be conducive to;
The use of computers in the classroom lead to better writing

Lead

Lead, as in the performance of a composition;
Conduct an orchestra; Bairenboim conducted the Chicago symphony for years

Lead

Pass or spend;
Lead a good life

Lead

Lead, extend, or afford access;
This door goes to the basement
The road runs South

Lead

Move ahead (of others) in time or space

Lead

Cause something to pass or lead somewhere;
Run the wire behind the cabinet

Lead

Preside over;
John moderated the discussion

Common Curiosities

What are some common uses of lead today?

Today, lead is primarily used in batteries, radiation protection, and ammunition.

What are the health risks associated with lead?

Lead exposure can lead to poisoning, affecting the nervous system, kidneys, and other bodily functions.

How did the term "plumber" originate from plumbum?

"Plumber" originated from "plumbum" because plumbers historically worked with lead pipes.

Is plumbum still used in any modern languages?

Plumbum is not commonly used outside of academic or historical contexts.

What historical uses of lead are now banned?

The use of lead in paints and gasoline has been banned in many countries due to health risks.

What is the difference in toxicity between organic and inorganic lead compounds?

Organic lead compounds are generally more toxic than inorganic ones, especially when inhaled.

Why is the chemical symbol for lead "Pb"?

The symbol "Pb" for lead comes from its Latin name, plumbum.

How is lead recycled?

Lead is extensively recycled, particularly from used car batteries, to prevent environmental contamination.

Are there any safe levels of lead exposure?

No level of lead exposure is considered completely safe, especially for children.

What impact has environmental awareness had on the use of plumb and lead?

It has led to more regulated use of lead and innovative, safer alternatives to traditional plumb line methods.

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Author Spotlight

Written by
Tayyaba Rehman
Tayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Fiza Rafique
Fiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.

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