Advertisement

View synonyms for reek

reek

[ reek ]

noun

  1. a strong, unpleasant smell.
  2. vapor or steam.


verb (used without object)

  1. to smell strongly and unpleasantly.
  2. to be strongly pervaded with something unpleasant or offensive.
  3. to give off steam, smoke, etc.

    Synonyms: fume, smoke, steam

  4. to be wet with sweat, blood, etc.

verb (used with object)

  1. to give off; emit; exude.
  2. to expose to or treat with smoke.

reek

/ riːk /

verb

  1. intr to give off or emit a strong unpleasant odour; smell or stink
  2. introften foll byof to be permeated (by); be redolent (of)

    the letter reeks of subservience

  3. tr to treat with smoke; fumigate
  4. dialect.
    tr to give off or emit (smoke, fumes, vapour, etc)


noun

  1. a strong offensive smell; stink
  2. dialect.
    smoke or steam; vapour

Discover More

Derived Forms

  • ˈreeking, adjective
  • ˈreekingly, adverb
  • ˈreeky, adjective

Discover More

Other Words From

  • reeker noun
  • reeking·ly adverb
  • reeky adjective

Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of reek1

before 900; (noun) Middle English rek ( e ), Old English rēc smoke; cognate with German rauch, Dutch rook, Old Norse reykr; (v.) Middle English reken to smoke, steam, Old English rēocan

Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of reek1

Old English rēocan ; related to Old Frisian riāka to smoke, Old High German rouhhan , Old Norse rjūka to smoke, steam

Discover More

Example Sentences

Both reek of false modesty, but Deen does appear jumpy and genuinely anxious at times.

And hipsters and hippies now reek of old-school, kneejerk attitudes.

The particulars of this case, in fact, reek with the stench of crony capitalism.

A moment later there was Something nearly at his left elbow, and he smelt again the nameless, fœtid reek.

The reek of hot tin from the dark lantern grew worse momentarily.

This first was the Boer hospital, and even at this early hour the air was pungent with the reek of strong tobacco.

At such times I could detect the faint reek of alcohol coming through his pores.

It overlaid the reek of the cattle yards, the fumes of rank spirits and tobacco that came from the shanties.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


reef pointreel