Fume vs Fray - What's the difference?
fume | fray |
A gas or vapour/vapor that smells strongly or is dangerous to inhale. Fumes are solid particles formed by condensation from the gaseous state, e.g. metal oxides from volatilized metals. They can flocculate and coalesce. Their particle size is between 0.1 and 1 micron. (A micron is one millionth of a metre)
* T. Warton
A material that has been vaporized from the solid state to the gas state and re-coalesced to the solid state.
Rage or excitement which deprives the mind of self-control.
Anything unsubstantial or airy; idle conceit; vain imagination.
* Francis Bacon
The incense of praise; inordinate flattery.
* Burton
To emit fumes.
* Milton
* Roscommon
To expose something (especially wood) to ammonia fumes in order to produce dark tints.
To feel or express great anger.
* Dryden
* Sir Walter Scott
To be as in a mist; to be dulled and stupefied.
* Shakespeare
To pass off in fumes or vapours.
* Cheyne
Affray; broil; contest; combat; brawl; melee.
* Shakespeare
* {{quote-news
, year=2010
, date=December 29
, author=Mark Vesty
, title=Wigan 2 - 2 Arsenal
, work=BBC
(archaic) fright
To unravel; used particularly for the edge of something made of cloth, or the end of a rope.
(figuratively) To cause exhaustion, wear out (a person's mental strength).
(archaic) frighten; alarm
* 1662 , , Book II, A Collection of Several Philosophical Writings of Dr. Henry More, p. 63:
* Spenser
To bear the expense of; to defray.
* Massinger
To rub.
* Sir Walter Scott
As verbs the difference between fume and fray
is that fume is to while fray is to unravel; used particularly for the edge of something made of cloth, or the end of a rope.As a noun fray is
affray; broil; contest; combat; brawl; melee.fume
English
Noun
(en noun)- Don't stand around in there breathing the fumes while the adhesive cures.
- the fumes of new shorn hay
- the fumes of passion
- (South)
- a show of fumes and fancies
- to smother him with fumes and eulogies
Verb
(fum)- where the golden altar fumed
- Silenus lay, / Whose constant cups lay fuming to his brain.
- He's still fuming about the argument they had yesterday.
- He frets, he fumes , he stares, he stamps the ground.
- Her mother did fret, and her father did fume .
- Keep his brain fuming .
- Their parts are kept from fuming away by their fixity.
Usage notes
* In the sense of strong-smelling or dangerous vapor, the noun is typically plural, as in the example. ----fray
English
Etymology 1
From (etyl) frai, aphetic variant of affray.Noun
(en noun)- Though they did not know the reason for the dispute, they did not hesitate to leap into the fray .
- Who began this bloody fray ?
citation, page= , passage=Wigan, unbeaten in five games at the DW Stadium, looked well in control but the catalyst for Arsenal's improvement finally came when Diaby left the field with a calf injury and Jack Wilshere came into the fray , bringing some much needed determination and urgency to lacklustre Arsenal. }}
Etymology 2
From (etyl) fraien, from (etyl) frayer, from (etyl) .Verb
(en verb)- The ribbon frayed at the cut end.
- The stressful day ended in frayed nerves. (Metaphorical use; nerves are visualised as strings)
- "Besides, all the wit and Philosophy in the world can never demonstrate, that the killing and slaughtering of a Beast is anymore then the striking of a Bush where a Bird's Nest is, where you fray away the Bird, and then seize upon the empty Nest."
- What frays ye, that were wont to comfort me affrayed?
- The charge of my most curious and costly ingredients frayed , I shall acknowledge myself amply satisfied.
- We can show the marks he made / When 'gainst the oak his antlers frayed .