Definition of REEK

reek

Plural: reeks

Noun

  • a distinctive odor that is offensively unpleasant
  • A strong unpleasant smell.
  • Vapour; steam; smoke; fume.
  • A hill; a mountain.

Verb

Verb Forms: reeked, reeking, reeks

  • To give off a strong, unpleasant smell or vapor.
  • have an element suggestive (of something)
  • smell badly and offensively
    • "The building reeks of smoke"
  • be wet with sweat or blood, as of one's face
  • give off smoke, fumes, warm vapour, steam, etc.
    • "Marshes reeking in the sun"
  • To have or give off a strong, unpleasant smell.
  • To be evidently associated with something unpleasant.
  • To be emitted or exhaled, emanate, as of vapour or perfume.
  • To emit smoke or vapour; to steam.
  • To cause (something) to smell.

Examples

  • His Scrabble strategy, though effective, sometimes REEKED of desperation.
  • The boss appointing his nephew as a director reeks of nepotism.
  • You reek of perfume.
  • Your fridge reeks of egg.

Origin / Etymology

From Middle English rek, reke (“smoke”), from Old English rēc, from Proto-West Germanic *rauki, from Proto-Germanic *raukiz, from Proto-Indo-European *rowgi-.
See also West Frisian reek, riik, Dutch rook, Low German Röök, German Rauch, Danish røg, Norwegian Bokmål røyk; also Lithuanian rū̃kti (“to smoke”), rū̃kas (“smoke, fog”), Albanian regj (“to tan”).

Synonyms

fetor, foetor, fume, malodor, malodour, mephitis, smack, smell, stench, stink, funk, honk, hum, niff, pong, reek, stink to high heaven, whiff

Scrabble Score: 8

reek: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
reek: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
reek: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 8

reek: valid Words With Friends Word