Definition of fume
1a : a smoke, vapor, or gas especially when irritating or offensive engine exhaust fumesb : an often noxious suspension of particles in a gas (such as air)
2 : something (such 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
on fumes
: with little of the original strength or energy remaining tired ballplayers running on fumes
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Recent Examples of fume from the Web
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Some of the bands passing through are crammed in a van, don't have a lot of money, and are on tour for months at a time, running on fumes.
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There are various types of fumes, smoke, haze, and mist that may contaminate the cabin and flight deck air supply system.
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Federal Aviation Administration said local fire officials directed the FAA to evacuate the Washington Center in Leesburg, Va., which handles high-altitude flights for the region, after fumes from construction work got into the control room.
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Noxious fumes smelling of rotten eggs filled the air surrounding Coachella Valley on a hot day last month, triggering a warning alert from Southern California air quality regulators.
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The scene was particularly noticeable Thursday because an inversion layer had settled over the region, trapping the fumes.
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The dangers to public health from diesel fumes became a political issue in the wake of revelations in September 2015 that Volkswagen had systematically cheated emissions tests to sell cars that produced excessive pollution.
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About 56,000 public transit system buses are operating in the U.S. Most burn diesel or gasoline fuel and spew nasty fumes from internal combustion engines into the atmosphere.
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Bananas and apples give off fumes that can hurt loose leaf lettuce, so they can’t be stored too close.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'fume.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology 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 Slavonic dymŭ
fume
Definition of fume
fumed
;fuming
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
1a : to emit fumesb : 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 in a Sentence
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.
Recent Examples of fume from the Web
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But even that might backfire, POLITICO reported, because the same moderates are still fuming over the larger Medicaid cuts.
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Sen. Jeff Tarte, a Cornelius Republican who’s fumed in his weekly drives to Raleigh, proposed the measure in March.
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NBC News 06/13/2017 3:11 Sessions Details Reasons for His Recusal from Russia Investigation 0:00 0:00 After two hours of testimony before the Senate Intelligence Committee, Democrats were left fuming over what the attorney general didn't answer.
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NBC News 06/13/2017 1:40 Sessions Weighs in on Trump's Conversations with Comey 0:00 0:00 After two hours of testimony before the Senate Intelligence Committee, Democrats were left fuming over what the attorney general didn't answer.
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But as the Russia probe ground on, the president fumed.
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Trump has fumed to allies and advisers ever since, suggesting that Sessions made a needless decision.
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Mr. Trump has fumed to allies and advisers ever since, suggesting that Mr. Sessions’s decision was needless.
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The two sides sniped at each other in public, and fumed about fuzzy communications.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'fume.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
First Known Use of fume
14th century
FUME Defined for English Language Learners
fume
playDefinition of fume for English Language Learners
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: smoke or gas that smells unpleasant
fume
Definition of fume for English Language Learners
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: to show or feel anger
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: to say (something) in an angry way
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: to produce or give off (smoke, fumes, etc.)
FUME Defined for Kids
Definition of fume for Students
: a disagreeable smoke, vapor, or gas —usually used in pl. noxious fumes
Definition of fume for Students
fumed
;fuming
1 : to give off a disagreeable smoke, vapor, or gas
2 : to be angry
3 : to say something in an angry way “Don't ever ask me again,” I fumed.
Learn More about fume
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See words that rhyme with fume Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for fume Spanish Central: Translation of fume Nglish: Translation of fume for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of fume for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about fume
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