perfect

perfect

synonyms, antonyms, definitions, examples & translations of perfect in English

English Online Dictionary. What means perfect‎? What does perfect mean?

English

Alternative forms

  • perfite, perfight (obsolete)
  • pf. (abbreviation, grammar)
  • poifect (humorous, pronunciation spelling)

Etymology 1

From Middle English perfit, from Old French parfit (modern: parfait), from Latin perfectus, perfect passive participle of perficere (to finish), from per- (through, thorough) + facere (to do, to make). Spelling modified 15c. to conform to Latin etymology. Doublet of parfait.

Displaced native Old English fulfremed.

Pronunciation

  • (UK) IPA(key): /ˈpɜː.fɪkt/, /ˈpɜː.fɛkt/
  • (US) IPA(key): /ˈpɝ.fɪkt/
  • Rhymes: -ɜː(ɹ)fɪkt, -ɜː(ɹ)fɛkt
  • Homophone: purrfect

Adjective

perfect (comparative perfecter or more perfect, superlative perfectest or most perfect)

  1. Fitting its definition precisely.
  2. Having all of its parts in harmony with a common purpose.
  3. Without fault or mistake; without flaw, of supreme quality.
    1. (of a copy) Exact, correctly reflecting the original in all aspects.
    2. (of an actor) Having thoroughly learned or memorized a part.
    3. (obsolete outside set of phrases, of a person) Having thoroughly learned or memorized a lesson; of a lesson: having been thoroughly learned or memorized.
    4. (obsolete) Fully trained or very knowledgeable; highly skilled
  4. Excellent and delightful in all respects.
  5. Morally or spiritually immaculate or ideal.
  6. (grammar, of a tense or verb form) Representing a completed action.
  7. (biology) Sexually mature and fully differentiated.
  8. (botany, of flowers) Having both male parts (stamens) and female parts (carpels).
  9. (mathematics, of a number) Equal to the sum of its proper divisors.
  10. (mathematical analysis, of a set) Equal to its set of limit points, i.e. set A{displaystyle A} is perfect if A=A{displaystyle A=A'}.
  11. (music) Describing an interval or any compound interval of a unison, octave, or fourths and fifths that are not tritones.
    Coordinate terms: augmented, diminished
  12. (of a cocktail) Made with equal parts of sweet and dry vermouth.
  13. (obsolete) Well informed; certain; sure.
  14. (obsolete) Innocent, guiltless; without blemish.
  15. (obsolete) Sane, of sound mind.
Usage notes

Some authorities proscribe the comparative and superlative forms "more perfect" and "most perfect", on the grounds that perfection is an absolute state. Nevertheless, graded forms have been in common use in writing for centuries – for instance the Preamble to the United States Constitution, drafted in 1787, describes its goal as "a more perfect Union". In these cases, "more perfect" can mean "closer to perfection", "less imperfect" or "improving upon an already perfect state".

Synonyms
  • (fitting its definition precisely): accurate, flawless
  • (without fault or mistake): faultless, infallible
  • (thoroughly skilled or talented): expert, proficient
  • (biology: sexually mature and fully differentiated): mature
  • (botany: having both male and female parts): bisexual, hermaphroditic
  • See also Thesaurus:flawless
Antonyms
  • (fitting its definition precisely): flawed
  • (without fault or mistake): faulty, faultful, fallible
  • (botany: having both male and female parts): imperfect
Hyponyms
Derived terms
Translations

Noun

perfect (plural perfects)

  1. (grammar) The perfect tense, or a form in that tense.
  2. (video games) A perfect score; the achievement of finishing a stage or task with no mistakes.
  3. (historical, Christianity) A leader of the Cathar movement.
    Synonym: perfectus
    Hyponym: perfecta
Synonyms
  • (grammar): preterperfect
Translations

Etymology 2

From perfect (adjective).

Pronunciation

  • (UK) IPA(key): /pəˈfɛkt/
  • (US) IPA(key): /pɚˈfɛkt/
  • Rhymes: -ɛkt

Verb

perfect (third-person singular simple present perfects, present participle perfecting, simple past and past participle perfected)

  1. (transitive) To make perfect; to improve or hone.
    Synonyms: enhance, hone, improve, optimize
  2. (law) To take an action, usually the filing of a document in the correct venue, that secures a legal right.
Related terms
  • perfectation
  • perfecter
  • perfectible
Translations

References

Anagrams

  • prefect

Chinese

Alternative forms

  • perfect池 (poe1 fik4 ci4)

Etymology

From English perfect.

Pronunciation

Adjective

perfect

  1. (Hong Kong Cantonese) perfect; excellent; flawless

References

  • English Loanwords in Hong Kong Cantonese

Dutch

Etymology

From Middle Dutch perfect, from Latin perfectus.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /pɛrˈfɛkt/, /pərˈfɛkt/
  • Hyphenation: per‧fect
  • Rhymes: -ɛkt

Adjective

perfect (comparative perfecter, superlative perfectst)

  1. perfect
    Synonym: volmaakt

Inflection

Derived terms

  • imperfect
  • perfectie

Related terms

  • imperfectum
  • perfectum

Descendants

  • Afrikaans: perfek

Adverb

perfect

  1. perfectly

Romanian

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin perfectus, German perfekt.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): [perˈfekt]

Adjective

perfect m or n (feminine singular perfectă, masculine plural perfecți, feminine and neuter plural perfecte)

  1. perfect, flawless
    Synonym: desăvârșit
    Antonyms: imperfect, nedesăvârșit

Declension

Adverb

perfect

  1. perfectly, completely

Noun

perfect n (uncountable)

  1. perfect tense

Derived terms

  • perfect compus
  • perfect simplu

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This article based on an article on Wiktionary. The list of authors can be seen in the page history there. The original work has been modified. This article is distributed under the terms of this license.