reek

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Pronunciation

• enPR: rēk, IPA: /riːk/

Noun

reek

1. A strong unpleasant smell.
2. (Scotland) Vapour; steam; smoke; fume.
   • 1623, William Shakespeare, The Merry Wives of Windsor

     Thou mightst as well say, I loue to walke by the
     Counter-gate, which is as hatefull to me, as the reeke of
     a Lime-kill.

   • 1768, Alexander Ross (poet), "Helenore; or, the fortunate Shepherdess": a Poem in the Broad Scoth Dialect

     Now, by this time, the sun begins to leam,

     And lit the hill-heads with his morning beam;

     And birds, and beasts, and folk to be a-steer,

     And clouds o’ reek frae lum heads to appear.

Translations

• French: puanteur
• German: Gestank
• Italian: puzza, fetore, tanfo
• Portuguese: fedor, catinga
• Russian: вонь
• Spanish: hedor, fetidez, peste

Translations

• German: Dampf
• Portuguese: vapor
• Spanish: vapor, vaho, emanación

Verb

reek (reeks, present participle reeking; past and past participle reeked)

1. (intransitive) To have or give off a strong, unpleasant smell.

   You reek of perfume.

   Your fridge reeks of egg.

2. (intransitive, figuratively) To be evidently associated with something unpleasant.

   The boss appointing his nephew as a director reeks of nepotism.

3. (archaic, intransitive) To be emitted or exhaled, emanate, as of vapour or perfume.
4. (archaic, intransitive) To emit smoke or vapour; to steam.

Translations

• French: empester, puer, fouetter (familiar), schlinguer (slang)
• German: stinken
• Italian: puzzare
• Portuguese: feder
• Russian: воня́ть
• Spanish: heder, apestar, cantar (colloquial), oler mal

Translations

• French: puer
• Portuguese: cheirar
• Russian: попахивать
• Spanish: apestar, dar#Spanish|dar asco

Noun

reek (plural reeks)

1. (Ireland) A hill; a mountain.

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