noun
1.
a strong, unpleasant smell.
2.
vapor or steam.
verb (used without object)
3.
to smell strongly and unpleasantly.
4.
to be strongly pervaded with something unpleasant or offensive.
5.
to give off steam, smoke, etc.
6.
to be wet with sweat, blood, etc.
00:10
Reek
is one of our favorite verbs.
So is subtilize. Does it mean:
| to run away hurriedly; flee. |
| to introduce subtleties into or argue subtly about. |
verb (used with object)
7.
to give off; emit; exude.
8.
to expose to or treat with smoke.
Origin:
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
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
Related forms
reek·er, noun
reek·ing·ly, adverb
reek·y, adjective
Synonyms
5. steam, smoke, fume.
5. steam, smoke, fume.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
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Link To reek
Collins
World English Dictionary
reek (riːk) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —vb (often foll by of) | |
| 1. | (intr) to give off or emit a strong unpleasant odour; smell or stink |
| 2. | to be permeated (by); be redolent (of): the letter reeks of subservience |
| 3. | (tr) to treat with smoke; fumigate |
| 4. | dialect chiefly (tr) to give off or emit (smoke, fumes, vapour, etc) |
| —n | |
| 5. | a strong offensive smell; stink |
| 6. | dialect chiefly smoke or steam; vapour |
| [Old English rēocan; related to Old Frisian riāka to smoke, Old High German rouhhan, Old Norse rjūka to smoke, steam] | |
| 'reeking | |
| —adj | |
| 'reekingly | |
| —adv | |
| 'reeky | |
| —adj | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
reek
O.E. rec (Anglian), riec (W.Saxon), "smoke from burning material," probably from O.N. reykr (cf. Reykjavik, lit. "smoky bay"), from P.Gmc. *raukiz (cf. O.Fris. rek, M.Du. rooc, O.H.G. rouh, Ger. Rauch "smoke, steam"), apparently not found outside Gmc. Sense of "stench" is attested 1659, via the notion
of "that which rises." The verb is from O.E. recan (Anglian), reocan (W.Saxon), from P.Gmc. *reukanan (cf. Ger. rauchen "to smoke," riechen "to smell"). Originally "to emit smoke;" meaning "to emit a bad smell" is recorded from 1710.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Cite This Source
Example sentences
Witness, perhaps, the first hyper-parenting trend that does not reek of wanton excess.
Programming strategies this year reek of uncertainty.
Any actor who doesn't want to reek of despair should avoid such self-mockery at all costs.
The sounds of grunting and the reek of sweat emanate from its dingy chambers every evening.
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