perfect Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a tense of verbs used in describing action that has been completed (sometimes regarded as perfective aspect)
    perfective; perfect tense; perfective tense.
  2. verb make perfect or complete
    hone.
    • perfect your French in Paris!
  3. adjective being complete of its kind and without defect or blemish
    • a perfect circle
    • a perfect reproduction
    • perfect happiness
    • perfect manners
    • a perfect specimen
    • a perfect day
  4. adjective satellite without qualification; used informally as (often pejorative) intensifiers
    double-dyed; complete; gross; arrant; unadulterated; sodding; stark; consummate; pure; utter; thoroughgoing; everlasting; staring.
    • an arrant fool
    • a complete coward
    • a consummate fool
    • a double-dyed villain
    • gross negligence
    • a perfect idiot
    • pure folly
    • what a sodding mess
    • stark staring mad
    • a thoroughgoing villain
    • utter nonsense
    • the unadulterated truth
  5. adjective satellite precisely accurate or exact
    • perfect timing

WordNet

Per"fect adjective
Etymology
OE. parfit, OF. parfit, parfet, parfait, F. parfait, L. perfectus, p.p. of perficere to carry to the end, to perform, finish, perfect; per (see Per-) + facere to make, do. See Fact.
Definitions
  1. Brought to consummation or completeness; completed; not defective nor redundant; having all the properties or qualities requisite to its nature and kind; without flaw, fault, or blemish; without error; mature; whole; pure; sound; right; correct.
    My strength is made perfect in weakness. 2 Cor. xii. 9.
    Three glorious suns, each one a perfect sun. Shak.
    I fear I am not in my perfect mind. Shak.
    O most entire perfect sacrifice! Keble.
    God made thee perfect, not immutable. Milton.
  2. Well informed; certain; sure.
    I am perfect that the Pannonains are now in arms. Shak.
  3. (Bot.) Hermaphrodite; having both stamens and pistils; -- said of flower. Syn. -- Finished; consummate; complete; entire; faultless; blameless; unblemished.
Per"fect noun
Definitions
  1. The perfect tense, or a form in that tense.
Per"fect transitive verb
Etymology
L. perfectus, p.p. of perficere. See Perfect, a.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Perfected; present participle & verbal noun Perfecting
Definitions
  1. To make perfect; to finish or complete, so as to leave nothing wanting; to give to anything all that is requisite to its nature and kind.
    God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfect in us. 1 John iv. 12.
    Inquire into the nature and properties of the things, . . . and thereby perfect our ideas of their distinct species. Locke.
    Syn. -- To finish; accomplish; complete; consummate.

Webster 1913