reek

To reek is to smell strongly of something unpleasant, or to give off a sense of something unpleasant.

(verb)

  1. When you douse yourself in cheap perfume and people two tables over can smell you, this is an example of a time when you reek of perfume.
  2. When your boss promotes his son to President of the company even though his son isn't qualified, this is an example of a situation where the hiring decision reeks of nepotism.

YourDictionary definition and usage example. Copyright © 2013 by LoveToKnow Corp.

See reek in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

  1. vapor; fume
  2. a strong, unpleasant smell; stench
  3. Scot., North Eng. smoke

Origin: ME < OE rec, akin to ON reykr, Ger rauch < ? IE base *reug-, cloud, smoke

intransitive verb

  1. to give off steam or smoke
  2. to have a strong, offensive smell
  3. to be permeated with anything very unpleasant

Origin: ME reken < OE reocan

transitive verb

  1. to expose to the action of smoke or fumes
  2. to emit or exude (vapor, fumes, etc.)

Related Forms:

See reek in American Heritage Dictionary 4

verb reeked, reek·ing, reeks
verb, intransitive
  1. To smoke, steam, or fume.
  2. To be pervaded by something unpleasant: “This document … reeks of self-pity and self-deception” (Christopher Hitchens).
  3. To give off or become permeated with a strong unpleasant odor: “Grandma, who reeks of face powder and lilac water” (Garrison Keillor).
verb, transitive
  1. To emit or exude (smoke, for example).
  2. To process or treat by exposing to the action of smoke.
noun
  1. A strong offensive odor; a stench. See Synonyms at stench.
  2. Vapor; steam.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English reken, to emit smoke

Origin: , from Old English rēocan

Origin: , and rēcan, to expose to smoke; see reug- in Indo-European roots

.

Related Forms:

  • reekˈer noun
  • reekˈy adjective

Learn more about reek

link/cite print suggestion box