perfume
PURF-yoom
Perfume (noun) means a liquid with a pleasant scent, worn on the skin or clothing. Example: “She dabbed a little perfume on her wrists before the party.”
noun
1
A liquid with a pleasant scent, worn on the skin or clothing.
"She dabbed a little perfume on her wrists before the party."
"He bought a bottle of perfume for his mother's birthday."
"This perfume is too strong for the office, so I wear it only at weekends."
2
A pleasant smell given off by something.
"The perfume of fresh roses filled the room."
"The perfume of baking bread drifted out of the bakery door."
"A sweet perfume hung over the garden after the rain."
verb
1
To give something a pleasant scent.
"Lavender bags were used to perfume the linen closet."
"She likes to perfume her letters with a drop of rose oil."
"Pine branches perfumed the cabin as the fire burned low."
How to use perfume
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA scented liquid worn for its smell, or the pleasant smell itself.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
spray perfume
a bottle of perfume
the perfume of flowers
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Word forms
- Plural
- perfumes
- Third person singular
- perfumes
- Past tense
- perfumed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She dabbed a little _____ on her wrists before the party.
Etymology
From Middle French parfum, ultimately from Latin per ("through") and fumare ("to smoke"), originally referring to scented smoke.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for perfume
See all rhymes for perfume →Frequently asked questions
What does “perfume” mean?
The word “perfume” means a liquid with a pleasant scent, worn on the skin or clothing. In plain terms, a scented liquid worn for its smell, or the pleasant smell itself.
How do you pronounce “perfume”?
“Perfume” is pronounced PURF-yoom (/ˈpɝfjuːm/ in IPA).
How do you use “perfume” in a sentence?
Here is “perfume” used in a sentence: “She dabbed a little perfume on her wrists before the party.”
What part of speech is “perfume”?
Depending on how it is used, “perfume” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “perfume” come from?
The word “perfume” comes from Latin. From Middle French parfum, ultimately from Latin per ("through") and fumare ("to smoke"), originally referring to scented smoke.
Is “perfume” a common word?
“Perfume” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “perfume” have?
“Perfume” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a liquid with a pleasant scent, worn on the skin or clothing.
What is the difference between perfume and cologne?
Perfume and cologne both refer to scented liquids worn on the skin, but cologne typically has a lower concentration of fragrance oils and a lighter, less lasting scent than perfume. Perfume is the broader term for a liquid with a pleasant scent worn on skin or clothing.
Can perfume refer to a smell that isn't a product?
Yes, perfume can also describe a pleasant smell given off by something naturally, such as the perfume of flowers, without referring to a manufactured product. This sense extends the word beyond bottled fragrances to any pleasant natural scent.
Can perfume be used as a verb?
Yes, to perfume something means to give it a pleasant scent, as in perfuming a room with flowers. This verb use is less common than the noun but is standard English.
