fume

UK: /ˈfjuːm/ US: /fjum/ ,(fyo̅o̅m)

Inflections of 'fume' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

fumes

v 3rd person singular

fuming

v pres p

fumed

v past

fumed

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

fume /fyum/   n., v., fumed, fum•ing. 
n. [countable]

1. Chemistry Often, fumes. [plural] smoke, gas, or vapor, esp. of an irritating nature:
   tobacco fumes.

v. [no object]

2. to emit or give off fumes or vapor.
3. to be fretful, irritated, or angry:
   She always fumes when the mail is late.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

fume  (fyo̅o̅m), n., v., fumed, fum•ing. 
n. 

1. Often, fumes. any smokelike or vaporous exhalation from matter or substances, esp. of an odorous or harmful nature:
   tobacco fumes; noxious fumes of carbon monoxide.
2. an irritable or angry mood:
   He has been in a fume ever since the contract fell through.

v.t. 

3. to emit or exhale, as fumes or vapor:
   giant stacks fuming their sooty smoke.
4. to treat with or expose to fumes.
5. to show fretful irritation or anger:
   She always fumes when the mail is late.

v.i. 

6. to rise, or pass off, as fumes:
   smoke fuming from an ashtray.
7. to emit fumes:
   The leaky pipe fumed alarmingly.

• Latin fūmus smoke, steam, fume
• Old French fum
• Middle English 1350–1400

fume′less, adj. 
fume′like′, adj. 
fum′er, n. 
fum′ing•ly, adv. 
Synonyms

• 2. rage, fury, agitation, storm.
• 5. chafe, fret.

fu•mé  (fy mā′), adj. [French.]

1. smoked.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

fume / fjuːm/ verb

1. (intransitive) to be overcome with anger or fury; rage
2. to give off (fumes) or (of fumes) to be given off, esp during a chemical reaction
3. (transitive) to subject to or treat with fumes; fumigate

noun

1. (often plural) a pungent or toxic vapour
2. a sharp or pungent odour

Etymology: 14th Century: from Old French fum, from Latin fūmus smoke, vapour

ˈfumeless adjective

ˈfumingly adverb

ˈfumy adjective