fume
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About Our Definitions: All forms of a word (noun, verb, etc.) are now displayed on one page.1fume
noun \ˈfyüm\Definition of FUME
1
a : a smoke, vapor, or gas especially when irritating or offensive <engine exhaust fumes> b : an often noxious suspension of particles in a gas (as air)
2
: something (as an emotion) that impairs one's reasoning <sometimes his head gets a little hot with the fumes of patriotism — Matthew Arnold>
3
: a state of excited irritation or anger —usually used in the phrase in a fume
— fumy \ˈfyü-mē\ adjective
— on fumes
: with little of the original strength or energy remaining <tired ballplayers running on fumes>
See Origin of FUME
Middle English, from Anglo-French fum, from Latin fumus; akin to Old High German toumen to be fragrant, Sanskrit dhūma smoke, Old Church Slavic dymŭ
First Known Use: 14th century
Other Chemical Engineering Terms
2fume
verbfumedfum·ing
Definition of FUME
transitive verb
1
: to expose to or treat with fumes
2
: to give off in fumes <fuming thick black smoke>
3
: to utter while in a state of excited irritation or anger
intransitive verb
1
a : to emit fumes b : to be in a state of excited irritation or anger <fretted and fumed over the delay>
2
: to rise in or as if in fumes
Examples of FUME
- She's still fuming about not being invited to the party.
- We sat there waiting for him, fuming with anger at the delay.
- “They made these changes without even asking our opinion,” one employee fumed.
- The volcano was fuming thick black smoke.
First Known Use of FUME
14th century
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