I. ˈfyüm noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French fum, from Latin fumus; akin to Old High German toumen to be fragrant, Greek thymos spirit, mind, courage, Sanskrit dhūma smoke
1.
a. : a gaseous emission (as from a burning or evaporating substance) that is usually odorous and sometimes noxious : smoke
a thin fume rising from his pipe and scenting the library
: vapor
the rain … sprang back on itself and the ground was hidden by a white fume — Audrey Barker
: odor
noticed the fumes of whiskey when he talked
b. : an often noxious suspension of particles in air or gas that may be formed in various ways (as by condensation of vapors or by chemical reaction)
the air pollution aspects of smoke and fumes
— usually used in plural and sometimes only of suspensions of solid particles in distinction from mist
c. : solid material deposited by condensation of fumes
the baghouse fume in lead smelting
2.
a. : a noxious vapor formerly supposed to rise to the brain from the stomach (as from alcoholic drinks)
a day's idleness to let the fumes of rum-punch … get out of his head — David Garnett
b. : something (as an emotion) that impairs one's reasoning
until the fumes of passion cleared away
3. : a state of excited irritation or anger — usually used in the phrase in a fume
might go away in a fume muttering — Thomas Wood †1950
4. : something like a fume in being transient or unsubstantial and noxious or offensive
the all-pervading fumes of sanctimoniousness — Max Ascoli
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English fumen, from Middle French fumer to smoke, expose to fumes, from Latin fumare to smoke, from fumus
transitive verb
1.
a. : to expose to fumes
fume a fabric with acid vapors to develop color effects
b. : to fill or permeate with fumes (as of incense)
c. obsolete : perfume
sheets fumed with violets — John Marston
2. : to give off in or as if in fumes
the freighter was fuming thick black smoke
an itinerant agitator who fumed race hatred
3.
a. : to cause (a substance) to emit fumes (as by heating)
fume the slag in a furnace to recover the lead contained
b. : to produce by fuming ; especially : sublime 1a — usually used as a past participle
fumed litharge
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to emit fumes (as in combustion or chemical action)
hydrogen chloride fumes in moist air
: smoke , reek
a cigarette fumes forgotten in the ash tray
the refinery area fumes with oil
b. : to act as if generating fumes: as
(1) : to be in a state of excited irritation or anger
he fretted and fumed over the delay
(2) : to speak in a fuming manner
he fumed at his opponent in an arm-waving, name-calling harangue
2. : to rise and pass away in or as if in fumes
a cloud of incense fumes from the censer
their happiness had suddenly fumed away
• fum·er -mə(r) noun -s