Library / English Dictionary

PERFUME

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

A toiletry that emits and diffuses a fragrant odor

Synonyms:

essence; perfume

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("perfume" is a kind of...):

toilet articles; toiletry (artifacts used in making your toilet (washing and taking care of your body))

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "perfume"):

cologne; cologne water; eau de cologne (a perfumed liquid made of essential oils and alcohol)

pachouli; patchouli; patchouly (a heavy perfume made from the patchouli plant)

perfumery (perfumes in general)

potpourri (a jar of mixed flower petals and spices used as perfume)

rose water (perfume consisting of water scented with oil of roses)

eau de toilette; toilet water (a perfumed liquid lighter than cologne)

Derivation:

perfume (apply perfume to)

perfume (fill or impregnate with an odor)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A distinctive odor that is pleasant

Synonyms:

aroma; fragrance; perfume; scent

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Hypernyms ("perfume" is a kind of...):

odor; odour; olfactory perception; olfactory sensation; smell (the sensation that results when olfactory receptors in the nose are stimulated by particular chemicals in gaseous form)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "perfume"):

incense (the pleasing scent produced when incense is burned)

Derivation:

perfume (apply perfume to)

perfume (fill or impregnate with an odor)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Apply perfume to

Example:

She perfumes herself every day

Synonyms:

perfume; scent

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

Hypernyms (to "perfume" is one way to...):

groom; neaten (care for one's external appearance)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

perfume (a toiletry that emits and diffuses a fragrant odor)

perfume (a distinctive odor that is pleasant)

perfumery (perfumes in general)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Fill or impregnate with an odor

Example:

orange blossoms perfumed the air in the garden

Synonyms:

aromatise; aromatize; perfume

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Hypernyms (to "perfume" is one way to...):

odorize; odourise; scent (cause to smell or be smelly)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

perfume (a toiletry that emits and diffuses a fragrant odor)

perfume (a distinctive odor that is pleasant)

perfumery (perfumes in general)

Credits

 Context examples: 

It may contain perfume as well as nectar glands.

(Petal, Food and Drug Administration)

Frankincense oil is used in perfumes, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals.

(Indian Frankincense Oil, NCI Thesaurus)

An essential oil that smells like roses is taken from the leaves and used in perfume, in mosquito repellants, and in aromatherapy to treat skin problems and to reduce stress.

(Geranium, NCI Dictionary)

Its essential oil (scented liquid taken from plants) is used in perfumes, shampoos, face creams, lotions, and aromatherapy.

(English chamomile, NCI Dictionary)

Essential oils are used in perfumes, food flavorings, medicine, and aromatherapy.

(Essential oil, NCI Dictionary)

Siberian fir oil is used in aromatherapy and perfumes.

(Abies sibirica Leaf Oil, NCI Thesaurus)

This substance is widely used in the manufacture of acetic acid, perfumes, dyes and drugs, as a flavoring agent and as an intermediate in the metabolism of alcohol.

(Acetaldehyde, NCI Thesaurus)

Amy hastily shook out half a dozen and laid the rest down before Mr. Davis, feeling that any man possessing a human heart would relent when that delicious perfume met his nose.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

There was a tiny fountain in the middle of the room, that shot a spray of green perfume into the air, to fall back into a beautifully carved green marble basin.

(The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum)

Orris root oil is used as a perfume ingredient and as an ingredient in gin.

(Orris Root Extract, NCI Thesaurus)