perfume
perfume Lexical Profile
perfume Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A fragrant liquid preparation, typically made from essential oils and aromatic compounds, applied to the body to impart a pleasant scent.
"She dabbed a few drops of her favorite jasmine perfume onto her wrists before leaving the house."
A naturally occurring pleasant, sweet, or fragrant smell.
"The gentle perfume of blooming roses filled the warm garden air."
• verb
To impart a pleasant scent or fragrance to.
"The blossoming lavender bushes perfumed the entire patio during the summer."
Word Nuance & Usage
In standard English pronunciation, the noun form typically places stress on the first syllable (PER-fume), whereas the verb form stresses the second syllable (per-FUME).
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Mid 16th century: from French 'parfum' (noun) and 'parfumer' (verb), originating from early Italian 'profumare', from Latin 'per-' (through) + 'fumare' (to smoke).