• Perfect

    Pronunciation

    • UK IPA: /ˈpɜː(ɹ).fɪkt/, /ˈpɜː(ɹ).fÉ›kt/
    • US IPA: /ˈpɝːfɪkt/, /ˈpɝːfÉ›kt/

    Origin 1

    Alternative forms

    • abbreviation, grammar: pf.

    From Middle English perfit, from Old French parfit (modern: parfait), from Latin perfectus, perfect passive participle of perficere ("to finish"), from per- ("through, thorough") + facere ("to do, to make"). Spelling modified 15c. to conform Latin etymology.

    Full definition of perfect

    Adjective

    perfect

    1. Fitting its definition precisely.
      a perfect circle
    2. Having all of its parts in harmony with a common purpose.
      That bucket with the hole in the bottom is a poor bucket, but it is perfect for watering plants.
    3. Without fault or mistake; thoroughly skilled or talented.
      Practice makes perfect.
    4. Excellent and delightful in all respects.
      a perfect day
      • 1879, Richard Jefferies, The Amateur Poacher Chapter 1, They burned the old gun that used to stand in the dark corner up in the garret, close to the stuffed fox that always grinned so fiercely. Perhaps the reason why he seemed in such a ghastly rage was that he did not come by his death fairly. Otherwise his pelt would not have been so perfect.
    5. (grammar, of a tense or verb form) Representing a completed action.
    6. (biology) Sexually mature and fully differentiated.
    7. (botany) Of flowers, having both male (stamens) and female (carpels) parts.
    8. (analysis) Of a set, that it is equal to its set of limit points, i.e. set A is perfect if A=A'.
    9. (music) Describing an interval or any compound interval of a unison, octave, or fourths and fifths that are not tritones.
    10. (of a cocktail) Made with equal parts of sweet and dry vermouth.
      a perfect Manhattan;   a perfect Rob Roy
    11. (obsolete) Well informed; certain; sure.

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    Noun

    perfect

    (plural perfects)
    1. (grammar) The perfect tense, or a form in that tense.

    Pronunciation

    • UK IPA: /pÉ™(ɹ)ˈfÉ›kt/
    • US IPA: /pɚˈfÉ›kt/

    Origin 2

    From perfect adjective or from Latin perfectus

    Verb

    1. (transitive) To make perfect; to improve or hone.I am going to perfect this article.You spend too much time trying to perfect your dancing.
    2. (legal) To take an action, usually the filing of a document in the correct venue, that secures a legal right.perfect an appeal; perfect an interest; perfect a judgment

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