perfume

UK: noun: /ˈpɜː^rfjuːm/, verb: /pə^rˈfjuːm/

US: /n. ˈpɝfjum, pɚˈfjum; v. pɚˈfjum, ˈpɝfjum/

US: (n. pûr′fyo̅o̅m, pər fyo̅o̅m′; v. pər fyo̅o̅m′, pûr′fyo̅o̅m)

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

perfumes

v 3rd person singular

perfuming

v pres p

perfumed

v past

perfumed

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

per•fume /n. ˈpɜrfyum, pɚˈfyum; v. pɚˈfyum, ˈpɜrfyum/   n., v., -fumed, -fum•ing. 
n. 

1. a substance that gives off an agreeable smell, esp. a fluid containing fragrant oils extracted from flowers, etc.:
   [uncountable] She wasn't wearing perfume.
   [countable] expensive French perfumes.
2. the scent of substances that have an agreeable smell:
   [uncountable] the perfume of the flowers.

v. [~ + object]

3. (of substances, etc.) to give a pleasant fragrance to:
   Roses perfumed the air.
4. to put perfume on:
   perfumed her handkerchief.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

per•fume  (n. pûr′fyo̅o̅m, pər fyo̅o̅m′;v. pər fyo̅o̅m′, pûr′fyo̅o̅m), n., v., -fumed, -fum•ing. 
n. 

1. a substance, extract, or preparation for diffusing or imparting an agreeable or attractive smell, esp. a fluid containing fragrant natural oils extracted from flowers, woods, etc., or similar synthetic oils.
2. the scent, odor, or volatile particles emitted by substances that smell agreeable.

v.t. 

3. (of substances, flowers, etc.) to impart a pleasant fragrance to.
4. to impregnate with a sweet odor;
   scent.

• obsolete Italian parfumare (modern profumare). See per-, fume
• Middle French parfum, noun, nominal derivative of parfumer (verb, verbal)
• earlier parfume (noun, nominal) 1525–35

per′fume•less, adj. 
per′fum•y, adj. 
Synonyms

• 1. essence, attar, scent; incense.
• 2. Perfume, aroma, fragrance all refer to agreeable odors.
  Perfume often indicates a strong, rich smell, natural or manufactured:
  the perfume of flowers.
  Fragrance is usually applied to fresh, delicate, and delicious odors, esp. from growing things:
  fragrance of new-mown hay.
  Aroma is restricted to a somewhat spicy smell:
  the aroma of coffee.

Antonyms

• 2. stench.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

perfume noun / ˈpɜːfjuːm/

1. a mixture of alcohol and fragrant essential oils extracted from flowers, spices, etc, or made synthetically, used esp to impart a pleasant long-lasting scent to the body, stationery, etc
   See also cologne, toilet water
2. a scent or odour, esp a fragrant one

verb / pəˈfjuːm/

1. (transitive) to impart a perfume to

Etymology: 16th Century: from French parfum, probably from Old Provençal perfum, from perfumar to make scented, from per through (from Latin) + fumar to smoke, from Latin fumāre to smoke