reek

verb

/riːk/

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they reek	/riːk/ /riːk/
he / she / it reeks	/riːks/ /riːks/
past simple reeked	/riːkt/ /riːkt/
past participle reeked	/riːkt/ /riːkt/
-ing form reeking	/ˈriːkɪŋ/ /ˈriːkɪŋ/

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[intransitive] reek (of something) to smell very strongly of something unpleasant
- His breath reeked of tobacco.
[intransitive] reek (of something) (disapproving) to make you think that something unpleasant, wrong or dishonest is involved in a situation
- Her denials reeked of hypocrisy.

Word OriginOld English rēocan ‘give out smoke or vapour’, rēc (noun) ‘smoke’, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch rieken ‘to smell’, rook ‘smoke’, German riechen ‘to smell’, Rauch ‘smoke’.

reek

noun

/riːk/

[singular]

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a strong unpleasant smell synonym stench
- the reek of cigarettes and beer
- The reek of gunpowder and smoke grew stronger.
- There was a permanent reek of decaying food in the cupboards.
Word OriginOld English rēocan ‘give out smoke or vapour’, rēc (noun) ‘smoke’, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch rieken ‘to smell’, rook ‘smoke’, German riechen ‘to smell’, Rauch ‘smoke’.