English
perfect
Pronunciation
  • (British) IPA: /ˈpɜː.fɪkt/, /ˈpɜː.fɛkt/
  • (America) IPA: /ˈpɝfɪkt/
Adjective

perfect (comparative perfecter, superlative perfectest)

  1. Fitting its definition precisely.
    a perfect circle
  2. 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.
  3. Without fault or mistake; thoroughly skilled or talented.
    Practice makes perfect.
  4. Excellent and delightful in all respects.
    a perfect day
    • 1879, R[ichard] J[efferies], chapter 1, in The Amateur Poacher, London: Smith, Elder, & Co., […], OCLC 752825175 ↗:
      They burned the old gun that used to stand in the dark corner up in the garret, close to the stuffed fox that always grinned so fiercely. Perhaps the reason why he seemed in such a ghastly rage was that he did not come by his death fairly. Otherwise his pelt would not have been so perfect. And why else was he put away up there out of sight?—and so magnificent a brush as he had too.
  5. (grammar, of a tense or verb form) Representing a completed action.
  6. (biology) Sexually mature and fully differentiated.
  7. (botany) Of flowers, having both male parts (stamens) and female parts (carpels).
  8. (analysis) Of a set, that it is equal to its set of limit points, i.e. set A is perfect if A=A'.
  9. (music) Describing an interval or any compound interval of a unison, octave, or fourths and fifths that are not tritones.
  10. (of a cocktail) Made with equal parts of sweet and dry vermouth.
    a perfect Manhattan; a perfect Rob Roy
  11. (obsolete) Well informed; certain; sure.
    • 1611 April (first recorded performance)​, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Cymbeline”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: Printed by Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358 ↗, [Act 3, scene 1]:
      I am perfect that the Pannonians and Dalmatians for their liberties are now in arms.
  12. (obsolete) Innocent, guiltless.
    • c. 1603–1604, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Othello, the Moore of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: Printed by Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358 ↗, [Act 1, scene 2]:
      My parts, my title, and my perfect soul shall manifest me rightly.
Synonyms Antonyms Related terms Translations Translations Translations Translations 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.
    • 2007, Barbara Smith, ‎Chad Yancey, Video Game Achievements and Unlockables (page 17)
      Awarded for scoring all Perfects in the Dominator rank!
Synonyms Pronunciation
  • (British) IPA: /pəˈfɛkt/
  • (America) IPA: /pɚˈfɛkt/
Verb

perfect (perfects, present participle perfecting; past and past participle perfected)

  1. (transitive) To make perfect; to improve or hone.
    I am going to perfect this article.
    You spend too much time trying to perfect your dancing.
  2. (legal) To take an action, usually the filing of a document in the correct venue, that secures a legal right.
    perfect an appeal; perfect an interest; perfect a judgment
Synonyms Related terms Translations

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