REEK

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does reek mean? 

• REEK (noun)
  The noun REEK has 1 sense:

1. a distinctive odor that is offensively unpleasant

  Familiarity information: REEK used as a noun is very rare.

• REEK (verb)
  The verb REEK has 4 senses:

1. have an element suggestive (of something)

2. smell badly and offensively

3. be wet with sweat or blood, as of one's face

4. give off smoke, fumes, warm vapour, steam, etc.

  Familiarity information: REEK used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• REEK (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A distinctive odor that is offensively unpleasant

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

fetor; foetor; malodor; malodour; mephitis; reek; stench; stink

Hypernyms ("reek" is a kind of...):

odor; odour; olfactory perception; olfactory sensation; smell (the sensation that results when olfactory receptors in the nose are stimulated by particular chemicals in gaseous form)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "reek"):

niff; pong (an unpleasant smell)

Derivation:

reek (smell badly and offensively)

• REEK (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they reek    ... he / she / it reeks   
Past simple: reeked   
Past participle: reeked   
-ing form: reeking   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Have an element suggestive (of something)

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Synonyms:

reek; smack; smell

Context example:

this passage smells of plagiarism

Hypernyms (to "reek" is one way to...):

evoke; paint a picture; suggest (call to mind)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s something

Sense 2

Meaning:

Smell badly and offensively

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Synonyms:

reek; stink

Context example:

The building reeks of smoke

Hypernyms (to "reek" is one way to...):

smell (smell bad)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s

Derivation:

reek (a distinctive odor that is offensively unpleasant)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Be wet with sweat or blood, as of one's face

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

Synonyms:

fume; reek

Hypernyms (to "reek" is one way to...):

exudate; exude; ooze; ooze out; transude (release (a liquid) in drops or small quantities)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Sense 4

Meaning:

Give off smoke, fumes, warm vapour, steam, etc.

Classified under:

Verbs of raining, snowing, thawing, thundering

Context example:

Marshes reeking in the sun

Hypernyms (to "reek" is one way to...):

emit; give off; give out (give off, send forth, or discharge; as of light, heat, or radiation, vapor, etc.)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

 Context examples 

There they lie, the water-snakes, in Freshwater Bay; and mark the reek of smoke from yonder point, where they have been at their devil's work.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

My father was sitting with staring eyes, and his forgotten pipe reeking in his hand.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

And oh, my God, my God, pity me! He placed his reeking lips upon my throat!

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

From the open door there reeked a horrible poisonous exhalation which set us gasping and coughing.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The door closed once more, and the pungent reek of a strong cigar was borne to our nostrils.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Ships are sent with the first opportunity; the natives driven out or destroyed; their princes tortured to discover their gold; a free license given to all acts of inhumanity and lust, the earth reeking with the blood of its inhabitants: and this execrable crew of butchers, employed in so pious an expedition, is a modern colony, sent to convert and civilize an idolatrous and barbarous people!

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

From dawn to sundown the long train wound through the pass, their breath reeking up upon the frosty air like the steam from a cauldron.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I remember that he swayed his reeking pipe in the earnestness of his prayer, so that I was half tears and half smiles as I watched him.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

He was back in a moment, and I smelt a strong reek of brandy as he passed me.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

He had obtained a large ordnance map of the neighbourhood, and this he brought into my room, where he laid it out on the bed, and, having balanced the lamp in the middle of it, he began to smoke over it, and occasionally to point out objects of interest with the reeking amber of his pipe.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)