adj., v., & n.
--adj.
1. complete; not deficient.
2 faultless (a perfect diamond).
3 very satisfactory (a perfect evening).
4 exact; precise (a perfect circle).
5 entire; unqualified (a perfect stranger).
6 Math. (of a number) equal to the sum of its divisors.
7 Gram. (of a tense) denoting a completed action or event in the past, formed in English with have or has and the past participle, as in they have eaten.
8 Mus. (of pitch) absolute.
9 Bot. a (of a flower) having all four types of whorl. b (of a fungus) in the stage where the sexual spores are formed.
10 (often foll. by in) thoroughly trained or skilled (is perfect in geometry).
--v.tr.
1. make perfect; improve.
2 carry through; complete.
3 complete (a sheet) by printing the other side.
--n. Gram. the perfect tense.
Phrases and idioms:
perfect binding a form of bookbinding in which the leaves are attached to the spine by gluing rather than sewing. perfect interval Mus. a fourth or fifth as it would occur in a major or minor scale starting on the lower note of the interval, or octave. perfect pitch absolute pitch 1.
Derivatives:
perfecter n. perfectible adj. perfectibility n. perfectness n.
Etymology: ME and OF parfit, perfet f. L perfectus past part. of perficere complete (as PER-, facere do)