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perfume definition

per·fume (pər fyo̵̅o̅m′; also, and for n. usually, pʉr′fyo̵̅o̅m′)

transitive verb perfumed -·fumed′, perfuming -·fum′·ing

  1. to fill with a fragrant or pleasing odor; scent
  2. to put perfume on; dab, spray, etc. with perfume

Etymology: MFr parfumer < It perfumare < L per-, intens. + fumare, to smoke < fumus, smoke: see fume

noun

  1. a pleasing smell or odor; sweet scent, as of flowers; fragrance
  2. a substance producing a fragrant or pleasing odor; esp., a volatile oil, as that extracted from flowers, or a substance like this prepared synthetically

Etymology: MFr parfum < the v.

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

perfume Synonyms

perfume

n.

scent, fragrance, aroma, odor, sweetness, bouquet, redolence, sachet, incense; see also smell 1.

Perfumes include: attar of roses, sandalwood, balm, bergamot, essential oil, bay oil, bay, rosemary, bay rum, frankincense, myrrh, civet, eau de cologne, musk, rose water, eau de toilette, toilet water, orange-flowers, potpourri, muscadine, spice, sachet, lavender, jasmine, patchouli, rose geranium.

perfume suggests a relatively strong, but usually pleasant, smell, either natural or manufactured the rich perfume of gardenias; scent, in this comparison, implies a relatively faint but pervasive smell, esp. one characteristic of a particular thing the scent of apple blossoms; fragrance implies an agreeable, sweet smell, esp. of growing things the fragrance of a freshly mowed field; bouquet is specifically applied to the fragrance of a wine or brandy; redolence implies a rich, pleasant combination of smells the redolence of a grocery


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

perfume Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • pour: This woman poured perfume on my body to prepare me for burial.

Adjective modifier

  • heady: There they happily dispense their heady perfume into the cool air.

Modifies a noun

  • bottle: Get your blue taper glass perfume bottle here, today.

Noun used with modifier

  • glass: Get your blue taper glass perfume bottle here, today.

Preposition: of

  • flower: They will smell different things - gasoline, food cooking, burning, grass just cut, perfumes of garden flowers.
perfume usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

perfume quotes

Le parfum de mille roses ne pla|"t qu'un instant; mais la douleur que cause une seule de leurs e¤  pines dure longtemps apre'  s la piq u" re. The perfume of a thousand roses pleases only for an instant; but the pain caused bya single one of their thorns lasts a long time after the prick.

-Bernardin de Saint-Pierre,Jacques-Henri

yes and how he kissed me under the Moorish wall and I thought well as well himas anotherand then I asked him with my eyes to ask again yes and then he asked me 452 would I yes to say yes my mountain flower and first I put myarms around him yes and drew him down tomeso he could feel my breasts all perfume yes and his heart was going like mad and yes I said yes I will Yes.

-Joyce,James Augustine Aloysius

If I were a woman I'd wear coffee as a perfume.

-Van Druten,JohnWilliam

perfume quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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MLA Style

"perfume." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/perfume>

APA Style

perfume. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/perfume

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