fume

¹

[ fyoom ]

noun

1. Often fumes. any smokelike or vaporous exhalation from matter or substances, especially 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.

   Synonyms: storm, agitation, fury, rage

verb (used with object)

, fumed, fum·ing.

1. to emit or exhale, as fumes or vapor:

   giant stacks fuming their sooty smoke.

2. to treat with or expose to fumes.

verb (used without object)

, fumed, fum·ing.

1. to rise, or pass off, as fumes:

   smoke fuming from an ashtray.

2. to emit fumes:

   The leaky pipe fumed alarmingly.

3. to show fretful irritation or anger:

   She always fumes when the mail is late.

   Synonyms: fret, chafe

fumé

²

[ fy-mey ]

adjective

, French.

1. of food, cured or flavored by exposure to smoke; smoked.

fume

/ fjuːm /

verb

1. intr 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. tr to subject to or treat with fumes; fumigate

noun

1. often plural a pungent or toxic vapour
2. a sharp or pungent odour
3. a condition of anger

fume

/ fyo̅o̅m /

1. Smoke, vapor, or gas, especially if irritating, harmful, or smelly.

Derived Forms

• ˈfumeˌlike, adjective
• ˈfumingly, adverb
• ˈfumeless, adjective
• ˈfumer, noun
• ˈfumy, adjective

Other Words From

• fumeless adjective
• fumelike adjective
• fumer noun
• fuming·ly adverb
• un·fuming adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of fume¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of fume¹

C14: from Old French fum , from Latin fūmus smoke, vapour

Related Words

• bristle
• chafe
• rave
• seethe