WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
per•fume /n. ˈpɜrfyum, pɚˈfyum; v. pɚˈfyum, ˈpɜrfyum/USA pronunciation
n., v., -fumed, -fum•ing.
n.
v. [~ + object]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026n.
- 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.
- the scent of substances that have an agreeable smell:[uncountable]the perfume of the flowers.
v. [~ + object]
- (of substances, etc.) to give a pleasant fragrance to:Roses perfumed the air.
- to put perfume on:perfumed her handkerchief.
per•fume
(n. pûr′fyo̅o̅m, pər fyo̅o̅m′;v. pər fyo̅o̅m′, pûr′fyo̅o̅m),USA pronunciation n., v., -fumed, -fum•ing.
n.
v.t.
per′fume•less, adj.
per′fum•y, adj.
n.
- 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.
- the scent, odor, or volatile particles emitted by substances that smell agreeable.
v.t.
- (of substances, flowers, etc.) to impart a pleasant fragrance to.
- 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′fum•y, adj.
- 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.
- 2. stench.