̘. ̈a.ˈpə:fɪkt adj.,
v., & n. --adj. 1
complete;
not deficient. 2
faultless (a perfect diamond). 3
very satisfactory (a perfect evening). 4
exact;
precise (a perfect circle). 5
entire;
unqualified (a perfect stranger). 6
Math. (of a number)
equal to
the sum of
its divisors. 7 Gram. (of a tense) denoting a completed
action or
event in the
past, formed in
English with have or
has and the past
participle, as in
they have eaten. 8 Mus. (of pitch)
absolute. 9
Bot. a (of a flower) having
all four types of
whorl. b (of a fungus) in the
stage where the
sexual spores are formed. 10 (often foll. by in) thoroughly trained or
skilled (is perfect in geometry). --v.tr. 1
make perfect;
improve. 2
carry through; complete. 3 complete (a sheet) by
printing the
other side. --n. Gram. the perfect tense. øperfect
binding a
form of bookbinding in
which the
leaves are attached to the
spine by gluing
rather than sewing. perfect
interval Mus. a
fourth or
fifth as it
would occur in a
major or
minor scale
starting on the lower
note of the interval, or
octave. perfect pitch = absolute pitch 1. øøperfecter n. perfectible adj. perfectibility n. perfectness n. [ME and OF parfit, perfet f. L perfectus past
part. of perficere complete (as
PER-, facere do)]
