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fɪktadjective
1.
conforming absolutely to the description or definition of an ideal type: a perfect sphere; a perfect gentleman.
2.
excellent or complete beyond practical or theoretical improvement: There is no perfect legal code. The proportions of this temple are almost perfect.
3.
exactly fitting the need in a certain situation or for a certain purpose: a perfect actor to play Mr. Micawber; a perfect saw for cutting out keyholes.
4.
entirely without any flaws, defects, or shortcomings: a perfect apple; the perfect crime.
5.
EXPANDaccurate, exact, or correct in every detail: a perfect copy.
6.
thorough; complete; utter: perfect strangers.
7.
pure or unmixed: perfect yellow.
8.
unqualified; absolute: He has perfect control over his followers.
9.
expert; accomplished; proficient.
10.
unmitigated; out-and-out; of an extreme degree: He made a perfect fool of himself.
11.
12.
Grammar.
a.
noting an action or state brought to a close prior to some temporal point of reference, in contrast to imperfect or incomplete action.
b.
designating a tense or other verb formation or construction with such meaning.
13.
Music.
a.
applied to the consonances of unison, octave, and fifth, as distinguished from those of the third and sixth, which are called imperfect.
b.
applied to the intervals, harmonic or melodic, of an octave, fifth, and fourth in their normal form, as opposed to augmented and diminished.
14.
Mathematics. (of a set) equal to its set of accumulation points.
15.
COLLAPSEObsolete. assured or certain.
noun Grammar.
16.
the perfect tense.
17.
a verb form or construction in the perfect tense. Compare future perfect, pluperfect, present perfect.
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Perfect
is always a great word to know.
So is multicellular. Does it mean:
| composed of several cells |
| female reproductive organ which produces eggs in bryophytes, ferns and most gymnosperms |
verb (used with object)
18.
to bring to completion; finish.
19.
to bring to perfection; make flawless or faultless.
20.
to bring nearer to perfection; improve.
21.
to make fully skilled.
22.
Printing. to print the reverse of (a printed sheet).
Origin:
1250–1300; < Latin perfectus, past participle of perficere to finish, bring to completion (per- per- + -fec-, combining form of facere to do1 + -tus past participle suffix); replacing Middle English parfit < Old French < Latin as above
1250–1300; < Latin perfectus, past participle of perficere to finish, bring to completion (per- per- + -fec-, combining form of facere to do1 + -tus past participle suffix); replacing Middle English parfit < Old French < Latin as above
Related forms
per·fect·ed·ly, adverb
per·fect·er, noun
per·fect·ness, noun
non·per·fect·ed, adjective
qua·si-per·fect, adjective
EXPANDqua·si-per·fect·ly, adverb
self-per·fect·ing, adjective
su·per·per·fect, adjective
su·per·per·fect·ly, adverb
un·per·fect, adjective
un·per·fect·ed, adjective
COLLAPSEUsage note
A few usage guides still object to the use of comparison words such as more, most, nearly, almost, and rather with perfect on the grounds that perfect describes an absolute, yes-or-no condition that cannot logically be said to exist in varying degrees. The English language has never agreed to this limitation. Since its earliest use in the 13th century, perfect has, like almost all adjectives, been compared, first in the now obsolete forms perfecter and perfectest, and more recently with more, most, and similar comparison words: the most perfect arrangement of color and line imaginable. EXPANDPerfect is compared in most of its general senses in all varieties of speech and writing. After all, one of the objectives of the writers of the U.S. Constitution was “to form a more perfect union.” See also complete, unique.
COLLAPSE
A few usage guides still object to the use of comparison words such as more, most, nearly, almost, and rather with perfect on the grounds that perfect describes an absolute, yes-or-no condition that cannot logically be said to exist in varying degrees. The English language has never agreed to this limitation. Since its earliest use in the 13th century, perfect has, like almost all adjectives, been compared, first in the now obsolete forms perfecter and perfectest, and more recently with more, most, and similar comparison words: the most perfect arrangement of color and line imaginable. EXPANDPerfect is compared in most of its general senses in all varieties of speech and writing. After all, one of the objectives of the writers of the U.S. Constitution was “to form a more perfect union.” See also complete, unique.
COLLAPSE
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source
|
Link To perfect
Example Sentences
- He caught that particular moment when everything is in perfect harmony.
- Six, now that's a perfect number.
- All these to me are unspeakably perfect miracles.
Collins
World English Dictionary
| perfect | |
| —adj | |
| 1. | having all essential elements |
| 2. | unblemished; faultless: a perfect gemstone |
| 3. | correct or precise: perfect timing |
| 4. | utter or absolute: a perfect stranger |
| 5. | excellent in all respects: a perfect day |
| 6. | maths exactly divisible into equal integral or polynomial roots: 36 is a perfect square |
| 7. | botany |
| a. (of flowers) having functional stamens and pistils | |
| b. (of plants) having all parts present | |
| 8. | grammar denoting a tense of verbs used in describing an action that has been completed by the subject. In English this is a compound tense, formed with have or has plus the past participle |
| 9. | music |
| a. of or relating to the intervals of the unison, fourth, fifth, and octave | |
| b. Compare imperfect full, Also: final (of a cadence) ending on the tonic chord, giving a feeling of conclusion | |
| 10. | archaic positive certain, or assured |
| —n | |
| 11. | grammar |
| a. the perfect tense | |
| b. a verb in this tense | |
| —vb | |
| 12. | to make perfect; improve to one's satisfaction: he is in Paris to perfect his French |
| 13. | to make fully accomplished |
| 14. | printing to print the reverse side of (a printed sheet of paper) |
| [C13: from Latin perfectus, from perficere to perform, from per through + facere to do] | |
| usage For most of its meanings, the adjective perfect describes an absolute state, i.e. one that cannot be qualified; thus something is either perfect or not perfect, and cannot be more perfect or less perfect. However when perfect means excellent in all respects, a comparative can be used with it without absurdity: the next day the weather was even more perfect | |
| 'perfectness | |
| —n | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
perfect
early 13c., from O.Fr. parfit (11c.), from L. perfectus "completed," pp. of perficere "accomplish, finish, complete," from per- "completely" + facere "to perform" (see factitious). Often used in Eng. as an intensive (perfect stranger, etc.). The verb meaning "to bring
EXPANDto full development" is recorded from late 14c. Perfectionist is 1650s, originally theological, "one who believes moral perfection may be attained in earthly existence;" sense of "one only satisfied with the highest standards" is from 1934.
COLLAPSE
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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