perfect
UK /ˈpɜː.fɪkt/ · US /ˈpɝ.fɪkt/ adjective, noun, verb
Forms perfecter perfectest perfects perfecting perfected perfite perfight pf. poifect
- adjective Fitting its definition precisely. “a perfect circle”
- adjective Having all of its parts in harmony with a common purpose. “That bucket with the hole in the bottom is a poor bucket, but it is perfect for watering plants.”
- adjective Without fault or mistake; without flaw, of supreme quality. “The gymnast performed a perfect somersault.”
- adjective (of a copy) Exact, correctly reflecting the original in all aspects. “The expert forger made a perfect copy of the victim's driver's license”
- adjective (of an actor) Having thoroughly learned or memorized a part.
- adjective (obsolete outside set of phrases, of a person) Having thoroughly learned or memorized a lesson; of a lesson: having been thoroughly learned or memorized. “Practice makes perfect.”
- adjective (obsolete) Fully trained or very knowledgeable; highly skilled
- adjective Excellent and delightful in all respects. “a perfect day”
- noun (grammar) The perfect tense, or a form in that tense.
- noun (video games) A perfect score; the achievement of finishing a stage or task with no mistakes.
- noun (historical, Christianity) A leader of the Cathar movement.
- verb (transitive) To make perfect; to improve or hone. “I am going to perfect this article.”
- verb (law) To take an action, usually the filing of a document in the correct venue, that secures a legal right. “perfect an appeal”
Synonyms
accurate flawless expert proficient mature bisexual faultless infallible hermaphroditic perfectus preterperfect enhance hone improve optimize perfective perfective tense perfect tense arrant complete consummate double-dyed everlasting gross pure sodding stark staring thoroughgoing utter
Antonyms
Etymology
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”). The spelling was modified in the 15th century to conform to its Latin etymon. Doublet of parfait, perfecto, and perfectus.
Displaced native Old English fulfremed.
From perfect (adjective).
Webster’s 1913
- adjective 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.
- adjective Well informed; certain; sure.
- noun The perfect tense, or a form in that tense.
- verb 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.
Etymology [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.]
Etymology [L. perfectus, p.p. of perficere. See Perfect, a.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “perfect”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details