stank

American  

[stangk] / stæŋk /

verb

1. a simple past tense of stink.

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stank ¹ British  

/ stæŋk /

noun

1. a small cofferdam, esp one of timber made watertight with clay

2. dialect a pond or pool

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verb

1. (tr) to make (a stream, cofferdam, etc) watertight, esp with clay

stank ² British  

/ stæŋk /

noun

1. a drain, as in a roadway

2. a draining board adjacent to a sink unit

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stank ³ British  

/ stæŋk /

verb

1. a past tense of stink

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Etymology

Origin of stank¹

C13: from Old French estanc , probably from estancher to stanch

Origin of stank²

special use of _stank ² (in the sense: pool, pond)

Example Sentences

"The sewage was overflowing and flowing directly into the river, and going into the children's playground. It stank in summertime," she said.

From BBC • Jun. 15, 2025

And if the pitch stank, Borzello wouldn’t be afraid to say so.

From Los Angeles Times • May 12, 2024

He found a place in Astana in an apartment that stank of cat.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 11, 2024

Black singers get it: You’re practicing the art of stank.

From New York Times • May 25, 2023

Harry had acquired sixteen cats, but he didn’t take care of them; the most frequent comment that reporters and tourists had upon leaving the lodge was that it stank of cat urine.

From "Mountain of Fire" by Rebecca E. F. Barone

Related Words

• smell