reek
(rēk)
[Middle English reken, to emit smoke, from Old English rēocan, and rēcan, to expose to smoke.]
verb: reeked, reek·ing, reeks.
intransitive verb
- To smoke, steam, or fume.
- To be pervaded by something unpleasant: “This document … reeks of self-pity and self-deception” (Christopher Hitchens)
- To give off or become permeated with a strong unpleasant odor: “Grandma, who reeks of face powder and lilac water” (Garrison Keillor)
transitive verb
- To emit or exude (smoke, for example).
- To process or treat by exposing to the action of smoke.
noun
- A strong offensive odor; a stench. See synonyms at stench
- Vapor; steam.
derivatives
- reeḱer
- noun
- reeḱy
- adjective