Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈpɜː.fɪkt/, /-fɛkt/Category:English 2-syllable words#PERFECTCategory:English terms with IPA pronunciation#PERFECT
• (General American, Canada) IPA^(key): /ˈpɝ.fɪkt/Category:English 2-syllable words#PERFECTCategory:English terms with IPA pronunciation#PERFECT

• Audio (General American):

  (file)

  Category:English terms with audio pronunciation#PERFECT
• (General Australian, New Zealand) IPA^(key): /ˈpɜː.fekt/Category:English 2-syllable words#PERFECTCategory:English terms with IPA pronunciation#PERFECT
• Homophone: purrfectCategory:English terms with homophones#PERFECT
• Hyphenation: per‧fect
• Rhymes: -ɜː(ɹ)fɪkt, -ɜː(ɹ)fɛktCategory:Rhymes:English/ɜː(ɹ)fɪkt#PERFECTCategory:Rhymes:English/ɜː(ɹ)fɪkt/2 syllables#PERFECTCategory:Rhymes:English/ɜː(ɹ)fɛkt#PERFECTCategory:Rhymes:English/ɜː(ɹ)fɛkt/2 syllables#PERFECT

Adjective

perfect (not generally comparable, comparative perfecter or more perfect, superlative perfectest or most perfect)Category:English lemmas#PERFECTCategory:English adjectives#PERFECTCategory:English entries with incorrect language header#PERFECTCategory:Pages with entries#PERFECTCategory:Pages with 4 entries#PERFECT

1. Fitting its definition precisely.

   a perfect circleCategory:English terms with usage examples#PERFECT

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.Category:English terms with usage examples#PERFECT

3. Without fault or mistake; without flaw, of supreme quality.

   The gymnast performed a perfect somersault.Category:English terms with usage examples#PERFECT

   I think I'm in love—I can't stop thinking about her. She's perfect!Category:English terms with usage examples#PERFECT

   • 1787, Gouverneur Morris, Preamble to the United States Constitution‎:

     We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

     Category:English terms with quotations#PERFECT

   1. (of a copy) Exact, correctly reflecting the original in all aspects.

      The expert forger made a perfect copy of the victim's driver's licenseCategory:English terms with usage examples#PERFECT

   2. (of an actor) Having thoroughly learned or memorized a part.
   3. (obsoleteCategory:English terms with obsolete senses#PERFECT 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.Category:English terms with usage examples#PERFECT

      word-perfect, letter-perfectCategory:English terms with usage examples#PERFECT

   4. (obsoleteCategory:English terms with obsolete senses#PERFECT) Fully trained or very knowledgeable; highly skilled
      • c. 1596–1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Fourth, […]. Epilogue.”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene i], lines 152–154:

        Our Battaile is more full of Names then yours, / Our Men more perfect in the vse of Armes, / Our Armor all as strong, our Cause the best

        Category:English terms with quotations#PERFECT

4. Excellent and delightful in all respects.

   a perfect dayCategory:English terms with usage examples#PERFECT

   • 1850, [Alfred, Lord Tennyson], “Canto XXIV”, in In Memoriam, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC, page 41:

     And was the day of my delight
     ⁠As pure and perfect as I say?
     ⁠The very source and fount of Day
     Is dash’d with wandering isles of night.

     Category:English terms with quotations#PERFECT

   • 1879, R[ichard] J[efferies], chapter 1, in The Amateur Poacher, London: Smith, Elder, & Co., […], →OCLC:

     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.

     Category:English terms with quotations#PERFECT

5. Morally or spiritually immaculate or ideal.
   • 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Psalms 37:37:

     Marke the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace

     Category:English terms with quotations#PERFECT

7. (grammarCategory:en:Grammar#PERFECT, of a tense or verb form) Representing a completed action.

   Coordinate terms: imperfect, (rare) infect

8. (biologyCategory:en:Biology#PERFECT) Sexually mature and fully differentiated.
9. (botanyCategory:en:Botany#PERFECT, of flowers) Having both male parts (stamens) and female parts (carpels).
10. (mathematicsCategory:en:Mathematics#PERFECT, of a number) Equal to the sum of its proper divisors.

    6 is perfect because the sum of its proper divisors, 1, 2, and 3, which is 6, is equal to the number itself.Category:English terms with usage examples#PERFECT

11. (mathematical analysisCategory:en:Mathematical analysis#PERFECT, of a set) Equal to its set of limit points, i.e. set ${\displaystyle A}$ is perfect if ${\displaystyle A=A'}$.
12. (musicCategory:en:Music#PERFECT) Describing an interval or any compound interval of a unison, octave, or fourths and fifths that are not tritones.

    Coordinate terms: augmented, diminished

    perfect fifthCategory:English terms with collocations#PERFECT

13. (of a cocktail) Made with equal parts of sweet and dry vermouth.

    a perfect ManhattanCategory:English terms with usage examples#PERFECT

    a perfect Rob RoyCategory:English terms with usage examples#PERFECT

14. (obsoleteCategory:English terms with obsolete senses#PERFECT) Well informed; certain; sure.
    • 1611 April (first recorded performance), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Cymbeline”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene i]:

      I am perfect that the Pannonians and Dalmatians for their liberties are now in arms.

      Category:English terms with quotations#PERFECT

15. (obsoleteCategory:English terms with obsolete senses#PERFECT) Innocent, guiltless; without blemish.
    • 1611 April (first recorded performance), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Cymbeline”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene iii]:

      My fault being nothing—as I have told you oft— / But that two villains, whose false oaths prevail'd / Before my perfect honour, swore to Cymbeline / I was confederate with the Romans: so / Follow'd my banishment

      Category:English terms with quotations#PERFECT

    • c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Othello, the Moore of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene ii]:

      My parts, my title, and my perfect soul shall manifest me rightly.

      Category:English terms with quotations#PERFECT

16. (obsoleteCategory:English terms with obsolete senses#PERFECT) Sane, of sound mind.
    • c. 1603–1606, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of King Lear”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene vii]:

      Pray, do not mock me. / I am a very foolish fond old man, / Fourscore and upward, not an hour more nor less / And, to deal plainly, / I fear I am not in my perfect mind.

      Category:English terms with quotations#PERFECT

Noun

perfect (plural perfects)Category:English lemmas#PERFECTCategory:English nouns#PERFECTCategory:English countable nouns#PERFECTCategory:English entries with incorrect language header#PERFECTCategory:Pages with entries#PERFECTCategory:Pages with 4 entries#PERFECT

1. (grammarCategory:en:Grammar#PERFECT) The perfect tense, or a form in that tense.
2. (video gamesCategory:en:Video games#PERFECT) 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!

     Category:English terms with quotations#PERFECT

     Category:Quotation templates to be cleaned
   • 2007, Eli Neiburger, Gamers-- in the Library?!:

     […] a table of all the ratings that each player has achieved, giving you several scoring options based on player feedback (I simply record the number of perfects).

     Category:English terms with quotations#PERFECT

3. (historicalCategory:English terms with historical senses#PERFECT, ChristianityCategory:en:Christianity#PERFECT) A leader of the Cathar movement.

   Synonym: perfectus

   Hyponym: perfecta

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /pəˈfɛkt/Category:English 2-syllable words#PERFECTCategory:English terms with IPA pronunciation#PERFECT
• (General American, Canada) IPA^(key): /pɚˈfɛkt/Category:English 2-syllable words#PERFECTCategory:English terms with IPA pronunciation#PERFECT

• Audio (US):

  (file)

  Category:English terms with audio pronunciation#PERFECT
• (General Australian, New Zealand) IPA^(key): /pəˈfekt/Category:English 2-syllable words#PERFECTCategory:English terms with IPA pronunciation#PERFECT
• Rhymes: -ɛktCategory:Rhymes:English/ɛkt#PERFECTCategory:Rhymes:English/ɛkt/2 syllables#PERFECT

Verb

perfect (third-person singular simple present perfects, present participle perfecting, simple past and past participle perfected)Category:English lemmas#PERFECTCategory:English verbs#PERFECTCategory:English entries with incorrect language header#PERFECTCategory:Pages with entries#PERFECTCategory:Pages with 4 entries#PERFECT

1. (transitiveCategory:English transitive verbs#PERFECT) To make perfect; to improve or hone.

   Synonyms: enhance, hone, improve, optimize

   I am going to perfect this article.Category:English terms with usage examples#PERFECT

   You spend too much time trying to perfect your dancing.Category:English terms with usage examples#PERFECT

2. (lawCategory:en:Law#PERFECT) To take an action, usually the filing of a document in the correct venue, that secures a legal right.

   perfect an appealCategory:English terms with usage examples#PERFECT

   perfect an interestCategory:English terms with usage examples#PERFECT

   perfect a judgmentCategory:English terms with usage examples#PERFECT

Declension

Related terms

Descendants

• Afrikaans: perfek
• → Indonesian: perfek

Declension

Derived terms

• perfect compus
• perfect simplu