Fume /(fūm)/

Fume

n.
  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.
  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.
  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.

Fume

v. i.

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.
    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.
  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.
    While her mother did fret, and her father did fume.

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

Fume

v. t.
  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.
  2. To praise inordinately; to flatter.
    They demi-deify and fume him so.
  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!