perfect
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Related to perfect: perfect tense
perfect
complete; unblemished; faultless: a perfect performance
Not to be confused with:
prefect – a person appointed to a position of command or authority; a chief magistrate
Abused, Confused, & Misused Words by Mary Embree Copyright © 2007, 2013 by Mary Embree
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.
5.
a. Completely corresponding to a description, standard, or type: a perfect circle; a perfect gentleman.
b. 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. Capable of sexual reproduction. Used of fungi.
11. Grammar Of, relating to, or constituting a verb form expressing action completed prior to a fixed point of reference in time.
12. Music Designating the three basic intervals of the octave, fourth, and fifth.
n.
1. Grammar The aspect of a verb that expresses action completed prior to a fixed point of reference in time.
2. A verb or verb form having this aspect.
tr.v. (pər-fĕkt′) per·fect·ed, per·fect·ing, per·fects
To bring to perfection or completion: perfected the technique to isolate the virus.
[Middle English perfit, from Old French parfit, from Latin perfectus, past participle of perficere, to finish : per-, per- + facere, to do; see dhē- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]
per·fect′er n.
per′fect·ness n.
Synonyms: perfect, consummate, faultless, flawless, impeccable
These adjectives mean being wholly without flaw: a perfect diamond; a consummate performer; faultless logic; a flawless instrumental technique; speaks impeccable French.
These adjectives mean being wholly without flaw: a perfect diamond; a consummate performer; faultless logic; a flawless instrumental technique; speaks impeccable French.
Usage Note: The adjective perfect is often considered an absolute term like chief and prime; some maintain that it 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 US Constitution in the phrase "in order to form a more perfect Union"). When perfect means "ideal for a purpose," as in There could be no more perfect spot for the picnic, modification by degree is considered acceptable; in fact 74 percent of the Usage Panel approved this example in our 2004 survey. See Usage Notes at absolute, equal, unique.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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. (Mathematics) maths exactly divisible into equal integral or polynomial roots: 36 is a perfect square.
7. (Botany) botany
a. (of flowers) having functional stamens and pistils
b. (of plants) having all parts present
8. (Grammar) 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, other) music
a. of or relating to the intervals of the unison, fourth, fifth, and octave
b. Also: full or final (of a cadence) ending on the tonic chord, giving a feeling of conclusion. Compare imperfect6
10. archaic positive certain, or assured
n
(Grammar) grammar
a. the perfect tense
b. a verb in this tense
vb (tr)
11. to make perfect; improve to one's satisfaction: he is in Paris to perfect his French.
12. to make fully accomplished
13. (Printing, Lithography & Bookbinding) 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]
ˈperfectness n
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
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
per•fect
(adj., n. ˈpɜr fɪkt; v. pərˈfɛkt)adj.
1. conforming absolutely to the description or definition of an ideal type: a perfect gentleman.
2. excellent or complete beyond practical or theoretical improvement.
3. exactly fitting the need in a certain situation or for a certain purpose: the perfect actor for the part.
4. entirely without any flaws, defects, or shortcomings: a perfect apple.
5. accurate, exact, or correct in every detail: a perfect copy.
6. thorough; complete; utter: perfect strangers.
7. unqualified; absolute: perfect control.
8. expert; accomplished; proficient.
9. unmitigated: a perfect fool.
10. monoclinous.
11.
a. of or designating a verb tense, aspect, or form typically indicating an action or state extending up to, or having results continuing up to, the present or some other temporal point of reference.
b. of or designating a verb tense, as in Greek, indicating an action or state brought to a close prior to some temporal point of reference, in contrast to imperfect or incomplete action.
12. pertaining to or being the consonant musical intervals of an octave, fifth, or fourth.
13. Obs. assured or certain.
v.t. 14. to bring to perfection; make flawless or faultless.
15. to bring nearer to perfection; improve.
16. to bring to completion; finish.
n. 17. the perfect tense or aspect.
18. a verb form or construction in the perfect tense or aspect.
[1250–1300; late Middle English; Middle English perfit, parfit < Old French < Latin perfectus, past participle of perficere to finish, bring to completion =per- per- + -ficere, comb. form of facere to make, do1]
per•fect′er, n.
per′fect•ness, n.
usage: Some usage guides still object to the use of such comparative terms as most, more, and rather with perfect on the grounds that perfect describes an absolute condition that cannot exist in degrees. The English language has never agreed to this limitation. perfect has been compared since its earliest use, first in the obsolete forms perfecter and perfectest and later with more, most, and similar words, in most of its general senses in all varieties of speech and writing: the most perfect arrangement imaginable. One of the objectives of the writers of the U.S. Constitution was “to form a more perfect union.” See also complete, unique.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
perfect
- A-OK - Astronauts on the Mercury Project in 1961 popularized A-OK, meaning "excellent, perfect"; it was coined by blending the adjective "A," as in A-one or A1, meaning "first-class," with "OK."
- palinoia - The compulsive repetition of an act until it is perfect.
- parfait - Literally French for "perfect."
- perfect binding - A book bound by gluing instead of sewing.
Farlex Trivia Dictionary. © 2012 Farlex, Inc. All rights reserved.
perfect
1. 'perfect'
Something that is perfect is as good as it can possibly be.
She speaks perfect English.
I've got the perfect solution.
In conversation, some people use perfect to mean 'very good indeed'. It is fairly common for people to say that one thing is more perfect than another, or that something is the most perfect thing of its kind.
The resulting film is more perfect than a genuine live broadcast.
Some claim its acoustics to be the most perfect in the world.
2. 'perfectly'
You do not use 'perfect' as an adverb. You do not say, for example, 'She did it perfect'. You say 'She did it perfectly'.
The plan worked perfectly.
He was dressed perfectly.
Collins COBUILD English Usage © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 2004, 2011, 2012
perfect
Past participle: perfected
Gerund: perfecting
| Imperative |
|---|
| perfect |
| perfect |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Noun | 1. |  perfect - a tense of verbs used in describing action that has been completed (sometimes regarded as perfective aspect)tense - a grammatical category of verbs used to express distinctions of time present perfect, present perfect tense - a perfective tense used to express action completed in the present; "`I have finished' is an example of the present perfect" past perfect, past perfect tense, pluperfect, pluperfect tense - a perfective tense used to express action completed in the past; "`I had finished' is an example of the past perfect" future perfect, future perfect tense - a perfective tense used to describe action that will be completed in the future; "`I will have finished' is an example of the future perfect" |
| Verb | 1. | perfect - make perfect or complete; "perfect your French in Paris!" ameliorate, improve, meliorate, amend, better - to make better; "The editor improved the manuscript with his changes" |
| Adj. | 1. | perfect - being complete of its kind and without defect or blemish; "a perfect circle"; "a perfect reproduction"; "perfect happiness"; "perfect manners"; "a perfect specimen"; "a perfect day" unblemished, unmarred, unmutilated - free from physical or moral spots or stains; "an unblemished record"; "an unblemished complexion" unbroken - not broken; whole and intact; in one piece; "fortunately the other lens is unbroken" exact - marked by strict and particular and complete accordance with fact; "an exact mind"; "an exact copy"; "hit the exact center of the target" utopian - characterized by or aspiring to impracticable perfection; "the dim utopian future"; "utopian idealists"; "recognized the utopian nature of his hopes" imperfect - not perfect; defective or inadequate; "had only an imperfect understanding of his responsibilities"; "imperfect mortals"; "drainage here is imperfect" |
| 2. | perfect - without qualification; used informally as (often pejorative) intensifiers; "an arrant fool"; "a complete coward"; "a consummate fool"; "a double-dyed villain"; "gross negligence"; "a perfect idiot"; "pure folly"; "what a sodding mess"; "stark staring mad"; "a thoroughgoing villain"; "utter nonsense"; "the unadulterated truth" arrant, double-dyed, sodding, utter, thoroughgoing, unadulterated, staring, pure, everlasting, consummate, stark, complete, gross unmitigated - not diminished or moderated in intensity or severity; sometimes used as an intensifier; "unmitigated suffering"; "an unmitigated horror"; "an unmitigated lie" | |
| 3. | perfect - precisely accurate or exact; "perfect timing" exact - marked by strict and particular and complete accordance with fact; "an exact mind"; "an exact copy"; "hit the exact center of the target" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
perfect
adjective
1. faultless, correct, pure, accurate, faithful, impeccable, exemplary, flawless, foolproof, blameless Nobody's perfect. He spoke perfect English.
faultless flawed, faulty, deficient, imperfect, impure
faultless flawed, faulty, deficient, imperfect, impure
2. excellent, ideal, supreme, superb, splendid, sublime, superlative This is a perfect time to buy a house.
3. immaculate, impeccable, flawless, spotless, unblemished, untarnished, unmarred The car is in perfect condition.
immaculate damaged, ruined, spoiled, flawed, impaired, defective
immaculate damaged, ruined, spoiled, flawed, impaired, defective
4. complete, absolute, sheer, utter, consummate, out-and-out, unadulterated, unmitigated, unalloyed She behaved like a perfect fool.
complete partial, unfinished, incomplete
complete partial, unfinished, incomplete
verb
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
perfect
adjective2. In excellent condition:
6. Completely such, without qualification or exception:
absolute, all-out, arrant, complete, consummate, crashing, damned, dead, downright, flat, out-and-out, outright, plain, pure, sheer, thorough, thoroughgoing, total, unbounded, unequivocal, unlimited, unmitigated, unqualified, unrelieved, unreserved, utter.
Chiefly British: blooming.
7. Free from extraneous elements:
8. Supremely excellent in quality or nature:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
تَامٌتام، كامِل، عَظيمتام، مُمتازمَضبوطيُتْقِن
съвършенсъвършенасъвършено
dokonalýnaprostýpřesnýzdokonalitbezvadný
perfektperfektionerefuldendtfuldstændignøjagtig
täydellinenkaksineuvoinen
savršen
tökéletesít
algjör, fullkominnfullkominnfullkominn, nákvæmurfullkomna
完璧な
완벽한
tobulintitobulumo siekiantis žmogus
ideāls, pilnīgspilnīgs, absolūtspilnveidotteicams, nevainojams
perfectperfecteperfectioneren
perfectperfecta
perfektný
izpopolnitiodličenpopoln
perfekt
ถูกต้อง
hoàn thiện
perfect
[ˈpɜːfɪkt]A. ADJ
1. (= faultless) → perfecto
nobody is perfect → nadie es perfecto
everything was perfect on the day → ese día todo salió perfecto
in perfect condition → en perfectas condiciones
he spoke perfect English, his English was perfect → hablaba un inglés perfecto
his Spanish is far from perfect → su español dista mucho de ser perfecto
you're in perfect health → se encuentra perfectamente de salud
see also practice A1
see also word-perfect
nobody is perfect → nadie es perfecto
everything was perfect on the day → ese día todo salió perfecto
in perfect condition → en perfectas condiciones
he spoke perfect English, his English was perfect → hablaba un inglés perfecto
his Spanish is far from perfect → su español dista mucho de ser perfecto
you're in perfect health → se encuentra perfectamente de salud
see also practice A1
see also word-perfect
2. (= ideal) [moment, solution, place] → ideal, perfecto
a job like that would be perfect for you → un trabajo como ése sería ideal or perfecto para ti
Saturday morning would be perfect → el sábado por la mañana sería ideal or perfecto
he's the perfect man for the job → es el hombre idóneo or ideal or perfecto para el cargo
his expertise made him the perfect choice → su experiencia hacía de él la persona idónea or ideal or perfecta
in a perfect world → en un mundo ideal
a job like that would be perfect for you → un trabajo como ése sería ideal or perfecto para ti
Saturday morning would be perfect → el sábado por la mañana sería ideal or perfecto
he's the perfect man for the job → es el hombre idóneo or ideal or perfecto para el cargo
his expertise made him the perfect choice → su experiencia hacía de él la persona idónea or ideal or perfecta
in a perfect world → en un mundo ideal
3. (= exact) → perfecto
a perfect circle → un círculo perfecto
a perfect copy → una copia perfecta
the jacket was a perfect fit → la chaqueta me estaba perfecta or me quedaba perfectamente
my watch keeps perfect time → mi reloj siempre marca la hora exacta
a perfect circle → un círculo perfecto
a perfect copy → una copia perfecta
the jacket was a perfect fit → la chaqueta me estaba perfecta or me quedaba perfectamente
my watch keeps perfect time → mi reloj siempre marca la hora exacta
4. (= absolute, utter) a perfect fool/stranger → un perfecto idiota/desconocido
I have a perfect right to be here → estoy en el perfecto derecho de estar aquí
she's a perfect pest → es una verdadera pesada
it makes perfect sense to me → me parece completamente or totalmente lógico
I have a perfect right to be here → estoy en el perfecto derecho de estar aquí
she's a perfect pest → es una verdadera pesada
it makes perfect sense to me → me parece completamente or totalmente lógico
B. [ˈpɜːfɪkt] N (Gram) the perfect → el tiempo perfecto
see also future A2
see also present C
see also past E
see also future A2
see also present C
see also past E
C. [pəˈfekt] VT → perfeccionar
she wanted to perfect her English → quería perfeccionar su inglés
to perfect the art of doing sth → perfeccionar el arte de hacer algo
she wanted to perfect her English → quería perfeccionar su inglés
to perfect the art of doing sth → perfeccionar el arte de hacer algo
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
perfect
[ˈpɜːrfɪkt] n
adj
(= excellent) [opportunity, place, example] → parfait(e) often before n
Their win was a perfect example of teamwork → Leur victoire était un parfait exemple de travail d'équipe.
to be a perfect fit (= just the right size) → aller parfaitement
Their win was a perfect example of teamwork → Leur victoire était un parfait exemple de travail d'équipe.
to be a perfect fit (= just the right size) → aller parfaitement
n
the perfect (= tense) → le passé composé
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
perfect
adj
→ perfekt; wife, husband, teacher, host, relationship → perfekt, vorbildlich; weather, day, holiday → ideal, perfekt; (Comm: = not damaged) → einwandfrei; to be perfect for doing something → bestens geeignet sein, um etw zu tun; it was the perfect moment → es war genau der richtige Augenblick; that’s the perfect hairstyle/woman for you → das ist genau die richtige Frisur/Frau für dich; his Spanish is far from perfect → sein Spanisch ist bei Weitem nicht perfekt; with perfect self-confidence → mit absolutem Selbstvertrauen; nobody is perfect → niemand ist perfekt or vollkommen; they make a perfect couple → sie sind das perfekte Paar; in a perfect world → in einer idealen Welt; he’s the perfect gentleman → er ist der perfekte Gentleman; perfect number (Math) → vollkommene Zahl
(= absolute, utter) → völlig; fool, nonsense → völlig, ausgemacht; she’s a perfect terror → sie ist einfach schrecklich; he’s a perfect bore → er ist ausgesprochen langweilig; perfect strangers → wildfremde Leute pl; a perfect stranger → ein wildfremder Mensch; he’s a perfect stranger to me → er ist mir völlig fremd; it’s a perfect disgrace → es ist wirklich eine Schande
(Gram) perfect tense → Perfekt nt; perfect ending → Endung f → im Perfekt; perfect form → Vergangenheitsform f
vt → vervollkommnen; technique, technology, process also → perfektionieren; to perfect the art of doing something → die Kunst perfektionieren, etw zu tun
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
perfect
[adj ˈpɜːfɪkt; vb pəˈfɛkt]1. adj (gen) (Gram) → perfetto/a
it's a perfect day for skiing → è una giornata ideale per sciare
he's a perfect stranger to me → mi è completamente sconosciuto
it's a perfect day for skiing → è una giornata ideale per sciare
he's a perfect stranger to me → mi è completamente sconosciuto
2. n (Gram) (also perfect tense) → perfetto
3. vt → perfezionare; (skill, technique) → mettere a punto
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
perfect
(ˈpəːfikt) adjective1. without fault or flaw; excellent. a perfect day for a holiday; a perfect rose.
2. exact. a perfect copy.
3. very great; complete. a perfect stranger.
(pəˈfekt) verb to make perfect. He went to France to perfect his French.
perˈfection (-ʃən) noun the state of being perfect. Absolute perfection in a dictionary is rare.
perˈfectionist (-ʃə-) noun a person who is only satisfied if what he is doing is perfect. She's a perfectionist – her work is perfect in every detail.
ˈperfectly adverb1. without mistakes or flaws. She performed the dance perfectly.
2. very; completely. He was perfectly happy.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
perfect
→ تَامٌ dokonalý perfekt perfekt τέλειος perfecto täydellinen parfait savršen perfetto 完璧な 완벽한 perfect perfekt doskonały perfeito совершенный perfekt ถูกต้อง mükemmel hoàn thiện 完美的Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009
perfect
a. perfecto-a, completo-a, acabado-a;
adv. perfectamente, completamente.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012