smack

¹ American  

[smak] / smæk /

noun

1. a taste or flavor, especially a slight flavor distinctive or suggestive of something.

   The chicken had just a smack of garlic.

   Synonyms:

   savor

2. a trace, touch, or suggestion of something.

   Synonyms:

   hint

3. a taste, mouthful, or small quantity.

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verb (used without object)

1. to have a taste, flavor, trace, or suggestion.

   Your politeness smacks of condescension.

   Synonyms:

   suggest, taste

smack ² American  

[smak] / smæk /

verb (used with object)

1. to strike sharply, especially with the open hand or a flat object.

2. to drive or send with a sharp, resounding blow or stroke.

   to smack a ball over a fence.

3. to close and open (the lips) smartly so as to produce a sharp sound, often as a sign of relish, as in eating.

4. to kiss with or as with a loud sound.

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verb (used without object)

1. to smack the lips.

2. to collide, come together, or strike something forcibly.

3. to make a sharp sound as of striking against something.

noun

1. a sharp, resounding blow, especially with something flat.

2. a smacking of the lips, as in relish or anticipation.

3. a resounding or loud kiss.

adverb

Informal.

1. suddenly and violently.

   He rode smack up against the side of the house.

2. directly; straight.

   The street runs smack into the center of town.

verb phrase

1. smack down to humble (an arrogant person); rebuke or criticize severely.

smack ³ American  

[smak] / smæk /

noun

1. Eastern U.S. a fishing vessel, especially one having a well for keeping the catch alive.

2. British. any of various small, fully decked, fore-and-aft-rigged vessels used for trawling or coastal trading.

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smack ⁴ American  

[smak] / smæk /

noun

Slang.

1. heroin.

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smack ¹ British  

/ smæk /

verb

1. (tr) to strike or slap smartly, with or as if with the open hand

2. to strike or send forcibly or loudly or to be struck or sent forcibly or loudly

3. to open and close (the lips) loudly, esp to show pleasure

4. (tr) to kiss noisily

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noun

1. a sharp resounding slap or blow with something flat, or the sound of such a blow

2. a loud kiss

3. a sharp sound made by the lips, as in enjoyment

4. informal to attempt

5. informal a snub or setback

adverb

1. directly; squarely

2. with a smack; sharply and unexpectedly

smack ² British  

/ smæk /

noun

1. a smell or flavour that is distinctive though faint

2. a distinctive trace or touch

   the smack of corruption

3. a small quantity, esp a mouthful or taste

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verb

1. to have the characteristic smell or flavour (of something)

   to smack of the sea

2. to have an element suggestive (of something)

   his speeches smacked of bigotry

smack ³ British  

/ smæk /

noun

1. a sailing vessel, usually sloop-rigged, used in coasting and fishing along the British coast

2. a fishing vessel equipped with a well for keeping the catch alive

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smack ⁴ British  

/ smæk /

noun

1. a slang word for heroin

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Etymology

Origin of smack¹

First recorded before 1000; (noun) Middle English smacke, Old English smæc; cognate with Middle Low German smak, German Geschmack “taste”; (verb) Middle English smacken “to perceive by taste, have a (specified) taste,” derivative of the noun; compare German schmacken

Origin of smack²

First recorded in 1550–60; imitative; compare Dutch, Low German smakken, German (dialectal) schmacken

Origin of smack³

First recorded in 1605–15, smack is from the Dutch word smak

Origin of smack⁴

First recorded in 1960–65; probably special use of smack ¹; compare earlier slang schmeck with same sense (from Yiddish shmek “sniff, whiff”; compare Middle High German smecken ( German schmecken ) “to taste”

Example Sentences

This would smack middle-class homeowners in the outer boroughs as well as the wealthy in Manhattan.

From The Wall Street Journal

He and Katherine were at Chip’s house, because Chip’s computer was in the basement, not right smack in the middle of the kitchen, where anyone could see.

From Literature

Customers won’t look a gift horse in the mouth, but it smacks of the expensive land grab that worries some U.S. tech investors.

From The Wall Street Journal

Sometimes, those gates can snap back and deliver a parting gift – a smack on the backside.

From Los Angeles Times

After being smacked to all parts of Mumbai's Wankhede stadium in conceding 196 to the West Indies on Wednesday, England's attack exerted much more control at Eden Gardens.

From Barron's

Related Words

• bang
• squarely