PERFUME

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does perfume mean? 

• PERFUME (noun)
  The noun PERFUME has 2 senses:

1. a distinctive odor that is pleasant

2. a toiletry that emits and diffuses a fragrant odor

  Familiarity information: PERFUME used as a noun is rare.

• PERFUME (verb)
  The verb PERFUME has 2 senses:

1. fill or impregnate with an odor

2. apply perfume to

  Familiarity information: PERFUME used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• PERFUME (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A distinctive odor that is pleasant

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

aroma; fragrance; perfume; scent

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)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A toiletry that emits and diffuses a fragrant odor

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

essence; perfume

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)

• PERFUME (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they perfume    ... he / she / it perfumes   
Past simple: perfumed   
Past participle: perfumed   
-ing form: perfuming   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Fill or impregnate with an odor

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Synonyms:

aromatise; aromatize; perfume

Context example:

orange blossoms perfumed the air in the garden

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)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Apply perfume to

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

Synonyms:

perfume; scent

Context example:

She perfumes herself every day

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)

 Context examples 

Don’t let this chance to capture that dream disappear like perfume in the air—use it! You’ll be glad you did.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

And, after all, I found their natural smell was much more supportable, than when they used perfumes, under which I immediately swooned away.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

A chemical used in flavorings and in some dyes, perfumes, and medicines.

(Benzaldehyde, NCI Dictionary)

It was almost enough to spread purification and perfume all the way.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

This substance is used to treat certain skin diseases, especially psoriasis, and is used in the synthesis of dyes, drugs, explosives, flavorings, perfumes, preservatives, synthetic resins, paints and stains.

(Coal Tar, NCI Thesaurus)

The essential oil (scented liquid taken from plants) of chamomile is used in perfumes, shampoos, lotions, and aromatherapy.

(Chamomile, NCI Dictionary)

The oil from the wood is used in soaps, shampoos, bath salts, perfumes, aromatherapy, and to keep insects away.

(Cedarwood, NCI Dictionary)

Hinoki wood oil has anti-bacterial properties and is used in perfumes, toothpaste, and hair tonic as well as for aromatherapy.

(Chamaecyparis obtusa Wood Oil, NCI Thesaurus)

Davana oil is used in making perfumes and can be processed to yield the anthelmintic chemical santonin.

(Davana Oil, NCI Thesaurus)

A type of chemical substance used in perfumes, paints, solvents, and found in essential oils (scented liquid taken from plants).

(Ketone, NCI Dictionary)