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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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.
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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