fume Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a cloud of fine particles suspended in a gas
    smoke.
  2. verb be mad, angry, or furious
  3. verb emit a cloud of fine particles
    smoke.
    • The chimney was fuming
  4. verb treat with fumes, expose to fumes, especially with the aim of disinfecting or eradicating pests
    fumigate.
  5. verb be wet with sweat or blood, as of one's face
    reek.

WordNet

Fume noun
Etymology
L. fumus; akin to Skr. dhma smoke, dh to shake, fan a flame, cf. Gr. to sacrifice, storm, rage, , , thyme, and perh. to E. dust: cf. OF. fum smoke, F. fumée. Cf. Dust, n., Femerell, Thyme.
Definitions
  1. Exhalation; volatile matter (esp. noxious vapor or smoke) ascending in a dense body; smoke; vapor; reek; as, the fumes of tobacco.
    The fumes of new shorn hay. T. Warton.
    The fumes of undigested wine. Dryden.
  2. Rage or excitement which deprives the mind of self-control; as, the fumes of passion. South.
  3. Anything vaporlike, unsubstantial, or' airy; idle conceit; vain imagination.
    A show of fumes and fancies. Bacon.
  4. The incense of praise; inordinate flattery.
    To smother him with fumes and eulogies. Burton.
Fume intransitive verb
Etymology
Cf. F. fumer, L. fumare to smoke. See Fume, n.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Fumed ; present participle & verbal noun Fuming
Definitions
  1. To smoke; to throw off fumes, as in combustion or chemical action; to rise up, as vapor.
    Where the golden altar fumed. Milton.
    Silenus lay, Whose constant cups lay fuming to his brain. Roscommon.
  2. To be as in a mist; to be dulled and stupefied.
    Keep his brain fuming. Shak.
  3. To pass off in fumes or vapors.
    Their parts pre kept from fuming away by their fixity. Cheyne.
  4. To be in a rage; to be hot with anger.
    He frets, he fumes, he stares, he stamps the ground. Dryden.
    While her mother did fret, and her father did fume. Sir W. Scott.
Fume transitive verb
Definitions
  1. To expose to the action of fumes; to treat with vapors, smoke, etc.; as, to bleach straw by fuming it with sulphur; to fill with fumes, vapors, odors, etc., as a room.
    She fumed the temple with an odorous flame. Dryden.
  2. To praise inordinately; to flatter.
    They demi-deify and fume him so. Cowper.
  3. To throw off in vapor, or as in the form of vapor.
    The heat will fume away most of the scent. Montimer.
    How vicious hearts fume frenzy to the brain! Young.

Webster 1913