Perfume

Pronunciation

• RP IPA: /ˈpɜːfjuːm/
• US pûr'fyoÍžom", IPA: /ˈpɝfjuːm/ or enPR: pÉ™r-fyooÍžm', IPA: /pɚˈfjuːm/

Origin

From Middle French parfum, from the obsolete Italian parfumare "to smoke through"

Full definition of perfume

Noun

1. A pleasant smell; the scent, odor, or odoriferous particles emitted from a sweet-smelling substance; a pleasant odor; fragrance; aroma.
• 1907, w, The Younger Set Chapter 5, Breezes blowing from beds of iris quickened her breath with their perfume ; she saw the tufted lilacs sway in the wind, and the streamers of rose-tinted wistaria swinging, all a-glisten with golden bees ; … .
2. A substance created to provide a pleasant smell or one which emits an agreeable odor.
• 2014-03-07, Nicole Vulser, Perfume manufacturers must cope with the scarcity of precious supplies, The perfume industry is facing a major problem: maintaining constant levels of quality is crucial, but it is increasingly difficult to obtain a regular supply of all the necessary natural ingredients.

Synonyms

• (pleasant smell) aroma, fragrance, scent
• (substance providing a pleasant smell) fragrance, scent

Derived terms

• perfumelike
• perfumey

Verb

1. (transitive) To apply perfume to; to fill or impregnate with a perfume; to scent.

Related terms

• perfumed
• perfumery