fume

¹

[ fyoom ]

noun

1. 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.

2. an irritable or angry mood:

   He has been in a fume ever since the contract fell through.

   Synonyms: storm, agitation, fury, rage

verb (used with object)

, fumed, fum·ing.

1. to emit or exhale, as fumes or vapor:

   giant stacks fuming their sooty smoke.

2. to treat with or expose to fumes.

verb (used without object)

, fumed, fum·ing.

1. to rise, or pass off, as fumes:

   smoke fuming from an ashtray.

2. to emit fumes:

   The leaky pipe fumed alarmingly.

3. to show fretful irritation or anger:

   She always fumes when the mail is late.

   Synonyms: fret, chafe

fumé

²

[ fy-mey ]

adjective

, French.

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

fume

/ fjuːm /

verb

1. intr to be overcome with anger or fury; rage
2. to give off (fumes) or (of fumes) to be given off, esp during a chemical reaction
3. tr to subject to or treat with fumes; fumigate

noun

1. often plural a pungent or toxic vapour
2. a sharp or pungent odour
3. a condition of anger

fume

/ fyo̅o̅m /

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

Derived Forms

• ˈfumy, adjective
• ˈfumingly, adverb
• ˈfumer, noun
• ˈfumeless, adjective
• ˈfumeˌlike, adjective

Other Words From

• fumeless adjective
• fumelike adjective
• fumer noun
• fuming·ly adverb
• un·fuming adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of fume¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of fume¹

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

Example Sentences

As the Donald Trump campaign continues to fume over editing practices on "60 Minutes," Fox News is seemingly using a heavy hand to make the former president look good.

From Salon

The tech magnate continued to fume about the state law last week.

From Los Angeles Times

The ex-president took to Truth Social on Wednesday morning to fume.

From Salon

Parents fume that it is rotting their children’s brains.

From New York Times

Developers fume that they have to pay to get in, and also have to follow Apple's strict rules: but Apple says in return they get access to an enormous marketplace of potential customers.

From BBC

Related Words

• bristle
• chafe
• rave
• seethe