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Definition of perfect - 8 dictionary results

per⋅fect

  [adj., n. pur-fikt; v. per-fekt]
Use perfect in a Sentence
–adjective
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. accurate, 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. Botany.
a. having all parts or members present.
b. monoclinous.
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. Obsolete. 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.
–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; < L perfectus, ptp. of perficere to finish, bring to completion (per- per- + -fec-, comb. form of facere to do 1 + -tus ptp. suffix); r. ME parfit < OF < L as above

Related forms:
per⋅fect⋅ed⋅ly, adverb
per⋅fect⋅er, noun
per⋅fect⋅ness, noun

Synonyms:
1, 2. See complete. 4. unblemished; faultless.

Usage 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. Perfect 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.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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per·fect   (pûr'fĭkt)   
adj.  
  1. Lacking nothing essential to the whole; complete of its nature or kind.
  2. Being without defect or blemish: a perfect specimen.
  3. Thoroughly skilled or talented in a certain field or area; proficient.
  4. Completely suited for a particular purpose or situation: She was the perfect actress for the part.
    1. Completely corresponding to a description, standard, or type: a perfect circle; a perfect gentleman.
    2. Accurately reproducing an original: a perfect copy of the painting.
  6. Complete; thorough; utter: a perfect fool.
  7. Pure; undiluted; unmixed: perfect red.
  8. Excellent and delightful in all respects: a perfect day.
  9. Botany Having both stamens and pistils in the same flower; monoclinous.
  10. Grammar Of, relating to, or constituting a verb form expressing action completed prior to a fixed point of reference in time.
  11. Music Designating the three basic intervals of the octave, fourth, and fifth.
n.  
  1. Grammar The perfect tense.
  2. A verb or verb form in the perfect tense.
tr.v.   (pər-fěkt') per·fect·ed, per·fect·ing, per·fects
To bring to perfection or completion.

[Middle English perfit, from Old French parfit, from Latin perfectus, past participle of perficere, to finish : per-, per- + facere, to do; see dhē- in Indo-European roots.]
per·fect'er n., per'fect·ness n.
Synonyms: These adjectives mean being wholly without flaw: a perfect diamond; a consummate performer; faultless logic; a flawless instrumental technique; speaks impeccable French.

Usage Note: Some people maintain that perfect is an absolute term like chief and prime, and therefore cannot be modified by more, quite, relatively, and other qualifiers of degree. But the qualification of perfect has many reputable precedents (most notably in the preamble to the U.S. Constitution in the phrase "in order to form a more perfect Union"). By the same token, perfect often means "ideal for the purposes," as in There could be no more perfect spot for the picnic, where modification by degree makes perfect sense. See Usage Notes at absolute, equal, unique.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Perfect

Per"fect\, a. [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.]

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.

Perfect cadence (Mus.), a complete and satisfactory close in harmony, as upon the tonic preceded by the dominant.

Perfect chord (Mus.), a concord or union of sounds which is perfectly coalescent and agreeable to the ear, as the unison, octave, fifth, and fourth; a perfect consonance; a common chord in its original position of keynote, third, fifth, and octave.

Perfect number (Arith.), a number equal to the sum of all its divisors; as, 28, whose aliquot parts, or divisors, are 14, 7, 4, 2, 1. See Abundant number, under Abundant. --Brande & C.

Perfect tense (Gram.), a tense which expresses an act or state completed.

Syn: Finished; consummate; complete; entire; faultless; blameless; unblemished.

Perfect

Per"fect\, n. The perfect tense, or a form in that tense.

Perfect

Per"fect\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Perfected; p. pr. & vb. n. Perfecting.] [L. perfectus, p. p. of perficere. See Perfect, a.] 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.

Perfecting press (Print.), a press in which the printing on both sides of the paper is completed in one passage through the machine.

Syn: To finish; accomplish; complete; consummate.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : perfect
Spanish: perfecto,
German: ideal,
Japanese: 申し分のない
More Translations »

perfect  (adj.)
c.1225 (implied in perfectiun), 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 to full development" is recorded from 1398. Perfectionist is 1657, 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.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Main Entry: per·fect
Pronunciation: 'p&r-fikt
Function: adjective
: entirely without fault or defect: as a : satisfying all requirements perfect tender> b : free from any valid legal objection : valid and effective at law perfect title to the property> —compare IMPERFECT

Main Entry: per·fect
Pronunciation: p&r-'fekt
Function: transitive verb
: to complete or put in final conformity with the law: as a : to make (an appeal) ready for transfer to an appeals court by satisfying procedural requirements b : to put (one's security interest) in a position or status having priority over subsequently perfected security interests or unperfected security interests by taking statutorily prescribed steps to give notice esp. by filing a financing statement or taking possession of the collateral perfect its security interest in the debtor's collateral, and, thus, was the first in priority for the collateral —Commercial Bank v. Pride Furniture, Incorporated, 877 Pacific Reporter, Second Series 1222 (1994)> —compare ATTACH 3 intransitive verb : to make something (as a security interest) complete, in conformity with the law, or valid against third-party claims —per·fec·tion /p&r-'fek-sh&n/ noun
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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