perfume

¹per·fume

noun \ˈpər-ˌfyüm, (ˌ)pər-ˈ\

Definition of PERFUME

1

: the scent of something sweet-smelling

2

: a substance that emits a pleasant odor; especially : a fluid preparation of natural essences (as from plants or animals) or synthetics and a fixative used for scenting

Examples of PERFUME

1. She smelled the different perfumes at the store.
2. <the perfume of fresh flowers filled the room>

Origin of PERFUME

Middle French perfum, probably from Old Occitan, from perfumar to perfume, from per- thoroughly (from Latin) + fumar to smoke, from Latin fumare, from fumus smoke — more at fume

First Known Use: 1533

Related to PERFUME

Synonyms

aroma, attar (also otto), balm, bouquet, fragrancy, incense, fragrance, redolence, scent, spice

Antonyms

fetor, malodor, reek, stench, stink

Related Words

essence, odor

See Synonym Discussion at fragrance

Rhymes with PERFUME

abloom, assume, backroom, ballroom, barroom, bathroom, bedroom, boardroom, bridegroom, broadloom, chat room, checkroom, classroom, clean room, cloakroom, coatroom, consume, costume, courtroom, darkroom, dayroom, entomb, enwomb, exhume, foredoom, front room, great room, greenroom, guardroom, gun room, headroom, heirloom, homeroom, houseroom, illume, inhume, jibboom, Khartoum, legroom, legume, lunchroom, men's room, mudroom, mushroom, newsroom, playroom, poolroom, pressroom, presume, push broom, relume, restroom, resume, salesroom, schoolroom, Scotch broom, sea room, showroom, sickroom, simoom, squad room, stateroom, stockroom, storeroom, strong room, subsume, sunroom, taproom, Targum, tearoom, throne room, toolroom, wardroom, washroom, weight room, whisk broom, white room, workroom

²per·fume

transitive verb \(ˌ)pər-ˈfyüm, ˈpər-ˌ\

per·fumedper·fum·ing

Definition of PERFUME

: to fill or imbue with an odor

Examples of PERFUME

1. The meal included a delicate fish perfumed with butter and herbs.
2. a time when it was common for men to perfume their hair

First Known Use of PERFUME

1531

Related to PERFUME

Synonyms

incense, odorize, scent

Antonyms

stink up

Near Antonyms

deodorize

perfume

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Fluid preparation used for scenting, composed of natural essences or synthetics and a fixative. Perfumes are concocted by the artful blending of certain fragrant substances in appropriate proportions. The art of perfumery was apparently known to the ancient Chinese, Hindus, Egyptians, Israelites, Carthaginians, Arabs, Greeks, and Romans; references to perfumes are found in the Bible. Raw materials used in perfumery include natural products, of plant or animal origin, and synthetic materials. Fine perfumes may be blends of more than 100 ingredients.