# fume

> English word · Noun · IPA /fjuːm/ · frequency rank #45,384

## Definitions
1. A gas or vapour/vapor that is strong-smelling or dangerous to inhale.
2. A material that has been vaporized from the solid or liquid state to the gas state and re-coalesced to the solid state.
3. Rage or excitement which deprives the mind of self-control.
4. Anything unsubstantial or airy; idle conceit; vain imagination.
5. The incense of praise; inordinate flattery.
6. A passionate person.

## Etymology
From Middle English fume, from Old French fum (“smoke, steam, vapour”), from Latin fūmus (“vapour, smoke”), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰuh₂mós (“smoke”), from *dʰewh₂- (“to smoke, raise dust”). Doublet of thymus and thymos. More at dun, dusk, dust.

## Easily confused with
- **fun** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fume-vs-fun)
- **fur** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fume-vs-fur)
- **fut** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fume-vs-fut)
- **fund** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fume-vs-fund)
- **fury** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fume-vs-fury)
- **funk** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fume-vs-funk)
- **fuse** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fume-vs-fuse)
- **fuss** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fume-vs-fuss)
- **fuzz** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fume-vs-fuzz)
- **furs** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fume-vs-furs)
- **fung** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fume-vs-fung)
- **fused** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fume-vs-fused)
- **fumes** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fume-vs-fumes)
- **fuses** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fume-vs-fuses)
- **FM** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fm-vs-fume)
- **Fe** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fe-vs-fume)
- **fu** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fu-vs-fume)
- **fee** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fee-vs-fume)
- **fam** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fam-vs-fume)
- **foe** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/foe-vs-fume)

## Common misspellings (5)
`ffume`, `fmue`, `fuem`, `fumme`, `ufme`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/fume