fume

[ fyoom ]

/ fyum /

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See synonyms for: fume / fumed / fumes / fuming on Thesaurus.com

noun

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.

an irritable or angry mood: He has been in a fume ever since the contract fell through.

verb (used with object), fumed, fum·ing.

to emit or exhale, as fumes or vapor: giant stacks fuming their sooty smoke.

to treat with or expose to fumes.

verb (used without object), fumed, fum·ing.

to rise, or pass off, as fumes: smoke fuming from an ashtray.

to emit fumes: The leaky pipe fumed alarmingly.

to show fretful irritation or anger: She always fumes when the mail is late.

OTHER WORDS FOR fume

2 rage, fury; agitation, storm.

7 chafe, fret.

See synonyms for fume on Thesaurus.com

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Question 1 of 7

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of fume

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

OTHER WORDS FROM fume

fumeless, adjectivefumelike, adjectivefumer, nounfum·ing·ly, adverb

un·fum·ing, adjective

Other definitions for fume (2 of 2)

fumé

[ fy-mey ]

/ füˈmeɪ /

adjective French.

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use fume in a sentence

To create that all-important alcohol content, the fumes are circulated out of the still into condensers.
When It Comes to Great Whisky, The Size of Your Still Matters||December 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Fumes filled the arena, engines revved, and the beastly vehicles made their way out on to the spotlight.
The Moms of Monster Jam Drive Trucks, Buck Macho Culture|Eliza Krigman|November 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The smells of roasting maize, diesel fumes, and floral soap from the streets of Harare are still seared into my brain.
How I Got Addicted to Africa (and Wrote a Thriller About It)|Todd Moss|September 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The stench of the backed-up toilets combines with the fumes of garbage fermenting in the midday sun.
Israel Is Minting the Next Generation of Hate|Jesse Rosenfeld|July 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST

But inhale the fumes of Republican rhetoric more deeply, and a more mind-blowing reality comes into focus.
Rubio’s Wrong on Recreational Pot|James Poulos|May 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In smoking, they swallow the fumes of the tobacco which causes intoxication for a time.
Tobacco; Its History, Varieties, Culture, Manufacture and Commerce|E. R. Billings.
The champagne was cold, and its subtle fumes played fantastic tricks with Edna's memory that night.
The Awakening and Selected Short Stories|Kate Chopin
While they were talking another shell entered the small apartment, exploded, and filled the air with dust and stifling fumes.
The Red Year|Louis Tracy
And while the men breathed the bitter fumes, Chew-chew threatened the angry god and commanded him to go away.
The Later Cave-Men|Katharine Elizabeth Dopp
Each sprite of aromatic perfume when released plunged into noiseless tumult with opposing fumes.
The Dragon Painter|Mary McNeil Fenollosa

British Dictionary definitions for fume

fume

/ (fjuːm) /

verb

(intr) to be overcome with anger or fury; rage

to give off (fumes) or (of fumes) to be given off, esp during a chemical reaction

(tr) to subject to or treat with fumes; fumigate

noun

(often plural) a pungent or toxic vapour

a sharp or pungent odour

a condition of anger

Derived forms of fume

fumeless, adjectivefumelike, adjectivefumer, nounfumingly, adverb

fumy, adjective

Word Origin for fume

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for fume

fume

[ fyōōm ]

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

fume

OTHER WORDS FOR fume

Origin of fume

OTHER WORDS FROM fume

Other definitions for fume (2 of 2)

Words related to fume

How to use fume in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for fume

Derived forms of fume

Word Origin for fume

Scientific definitions for fume