fume

Everyday

1. Fumes are smoke, gas or strong smells that are unpleasant or harmful to breathe, like car exhaust or paint fumes. tree →
2. To fume is to be very angry, often quietly or while waiting. tree →
3. To fume is to give off smoke or gas. tree →
4. (informal, UK) «I'm fuming» means I'm really angry. tree →

In the lessons

In science and safety lessons, harmful fumes from cars, fires and chemicals are a danger; open windows when painting. In stories, a character fumes with anger: «She fumed all the way home.» Phrases: «exhaust fumes», «paint fumes», «toxic fumes», «fuming with anger», «running on fumes» (almost out of fuel or energy).

Examples

• The car's exhaust fumes made me cough. tree →
• Open the window; the paint fumes are strong. tree →
• The firefighters wore masks against the toxic fumes. tree →
• Dad fumed when the train was late again. tree →
• I was fuming when my brother broke my model! tree →
• The chemical began to fume when it touched the water. tree →
• I'm running on fumes after that long day. tree →

Note

As a noun, usually plural: fumes. Verb is regular: fumed, fuming. «Fuming» is a strong but not rude word for angry. Safety: never breathe fumes from chemicals or burning plastic; tell an adult.