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

Derived Forms

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

Other Words From

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

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

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

Example Sentences

Grand juries may not go along with prosecutions that reek of vengeance, and trial juries and judges are more likely to resist.

From Los Angeles Times

The Trump campaign, which said Harris’ acts reek of desperation, faced flak for statements the former president made about using the military to deal with “the enemy from within.”

From Los Angeles Times

While Trump's inaccurate claims have gained traction among supporters on social media, crticis are saying that they reek of desperation.

From Salon

However, this argument is harder won in the case of the Acklay, the Nexus, and the Reek, the three alien creatures Padme Amidala, Anakin Skywalker, and Obi-wan are made to square off against in an arena on the planet Geonosis after being captured at a droid factory.

From Salon

Our identification with the reek — which looks vaguely like a tri-horned rhino with a ruddy-colored face — specifically grows as the scene progresses.

From Salon