Etymology : Middle French perfum, probably from Old Provençal, from perfumar to perfume, from per- thoroughly + fumar to smoke, from Latin fumare, from fumus smoke; more at FUME
Pronunciation : 'p&r-"fyüm, (")p&
Function : noun
Date : 1533
1. cologne, eau de toilette; scent. give a scent, scent with perfume. perfume\per"fume\ , n. [f. parfum; cf. sp. perfume. see:
perfume, v.].
2. the scent, odor, or odoriferous particles emitted from a sweet-smelling substance; a pleasant odor; fragrance; aroma. no rich perfumes refresh the fruitful field.
3. a substance that emits an agreeable odor. and thou shalt make it a perfume. xxx. 35.perfume \per*fume"\ , v. t. [imp. & p. p. perfumed ; p. pr. & vb. n. perfuming.] [f. parfumer (cf. sp. perfumar); par (see:
par) + fumer to smoke, l. fumare, fr. fumus smoke. see:
fume.] to fill or impregnate with a perfume; to scent. and carmel's flowery top perfumes the skies.perfume n.
4. a toiletry that emits and diffuses a fragrant odor [syn: essence].
5. a distinctive odor that is pleasant [syn: aroma, fragrance, scent] v 1: fill or impregnate with an odor [syn: aromatize] 2: apply perfume to; "she perfumes herself every day" [syn: scent].
6. To fill or impregnate with a perfume; to scent.
7. The scent, odor, or odoriferous particles emitted from a sweet-smelling substance; a pleasant odor; fragrance; aroma.
8. A substance that emits an agreeable odor. a toiletry that emits and diffuses a fragrant odor apply perfume to; "She perfumes herself every day" fill or impregnate with an odor; "orange blossoms prerfumed the air in the garden".
9. 1. Perfume is a pleasant-smelling liquid which women put on their skin to make themselves smell nice. The hall smelled of her mother's perfume. a bottle of perfume. = scent.
10. Perfume is the ingredient that is added to some products to make them smell nice. a delicate white soap without perfume.
11. If something is used to perfume a product, it is added to the product to make it smell nice. The oil is used to flavour and perfume soaps, foam baths, and scents. shower gel perfumed with the popular Paris fragrance. 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.