stink

[stingk]

verb (used without object)

stank, stunk, stunk, stinking. 

1. to emit a strong offensive smell.

   Synonyms: reek

2. to be offensive to honesty or propriety; to be in extremely bad repute or disfavor.

3. Informal.,  to be disgustingly inferior.

   That book stinks.

4. Slang.,  to have a large quantity of something (usually followed by of orwith ).

   They stink of money. She stinks with jewelry.

verb (used with object)

stank, stunk, stunk, stinking. 

1. to cause to stink or be otherwise offensive (often followed byup ).

   an amateurish performance that really stank up the stage.

noun

1. a strong offensive smell; stench.

2. Informal.,  an unpleasant fuss; scandal.

   There was a big stink about his accepting a bribe.

3. (used with a singular verb),  stinks, chemistry as a course of study.

verb phrase

1. stink out,  to repel or drive out by means of a highly offensive smell.

stink

/ stɪŋk /

noun

1. a strong foul smell; stench

2. slang,  a great deal of trouble (esp in the phrase to make or raise a stink )

3. intensely; furiously

verb

1. to emit a foul smell

2. slang,  to be thoroughly bad or abhorrent

   this town stinks

3. informal,  to have a very bad reputation

   his name stinks

4. to be of poor quality

5. slang,  to have or appear to have an excessive amount (of money)

6. informal,  to cause to stink

Other Word Forms

• outstink verb (used with object)

Word History and Origins

Origin of stink¹

First recorded before 900; (verb) Middle English stinken, Old English stincan; (noun) Middle English, derivative of the verb; cognate with German stinken (verb); stench

Word History and Origins

Origin of stink¹

Old English stincan; related to Old Saxon stinkan, German stinken, Old Norse stökkva to burst; see _stench

Idioms and Phrases

• big stink
• make a stink
• smell (stink) up

Example Sentences

Two Indian researchers decided this wasn't just about stink - it was about science.

From BBC

“He’s never made a stink in a headline about being disgruntled,” Conger said.

From Los Angeles Times

Not even the stuck-up sire in charge of the local fair wants her stink to rub off on the livestock.

From Salon

Expensive furniture has been broken or thrown out of the window, fancy decorations ripped out, every page of a Quran torn, and it stinks of rotten leftover food.

From BBC

I lost my sense of smell a few days ago, but even I can tell you that stinks.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• stench