Fume — Defs

01 n. Exhalation; volatile matter (esp. noxious vapor or smoke) ascending in a dense body; smoke; vapor; reek; as, the fumes of tobacco.

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.
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.
5.
Solid material deposited by condensation of fumes; as, lead fume (a grayish powder chiefly lead sulphate).(Metal.)

Phrases & compounds

In a fume — in ill temper, esp. from impatience.

02 v. i. To smoke; to throw off fumes, as in combustion or chemical action; to rise up, as vapor.

imp. & p. p. Fumed; p. pr. & vb. n. Fuming

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 are 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.

Phrases & compounds

To fume away — to give way to excitement and displeasure; to storm; also, to pass off in fumes.

03 v. t. 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, vap…

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.