Word a Day
reek
What does reek mean?
reek (verb): to have or give off a strong, unpleasant smell.
Definition: Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.
How do you pronounce reek?
/ɹik/ (IPA, American English). The app reads every word aloud.
Where does reek come from?
From Middle English reken (“to smoke”), from Old English rēocan.
Etymology: Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Test yourself: do you know “reek”?
Tap an answer to check it. The same questions the app asks.
What does “reek” mean?
to weaken or work against; to hinder, sabotage
Not quite: that's what undermine means.
to have or give off a strong, unpleasant smell
Right! That's what “reek” means.
come between so as to be hindrance or obstacle
Not quite: that's what interfere means.
to give way under force; to succumb to a force
Not quite: that's what yield means.
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