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1

smack

noun \ ˈsmak \
1 : characteristic taste or flavor; also : a perceptible taste or tincture
2 : a small quantity

Origin and Etymology of smack

Middle English, from Old English smæc; akin to Old High German smac taste and probably to Lithuanian smaguris sweet tooth
2

smack

verb
smacked; smacking; smacks
intransitive verb
1 : to have a taste or flavor
2 : to have a trace, vestige, or suggestion
  • a proposal that smacks of treason

First Known Use of smack

13th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

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3

smack

noun
: a sailing ship (such as a sloop or cutter) used chiefly in coasting and fishing

Origin and Etymology of smack

Dutch smak or Low German smack
4

smack

verb
smacked; smacking; smacks
transitive verb
1 : to close and open (lips) noisily and often in rapid succession especially in eating
2 a : to kiss with or as if with a smack
b : to strike so as to produce a smack
intransitive verb
: to make or give a smack

Origin and Etymology of smack

akin to Middle Dutch smacken to strike
5

smack

noun
1 : a quick sharp noise made by rapidly compressing and opening the lips
2 : a loud kiss
3 : a sharp slap or blow
4 US, informal : boastful or insulting language especially between opponents : smack talk, trash talk —usually used in the phrase talk smack
  • The college basketball season is barely a month old, yet the top two candidates for national player of the year are already talking smack.
  • —Grant Wahl

First Known Use of smack

1570

in the meaning defined at sense 1

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6

smack

adverb
: squarely and sharply : directly
  • smack in the middle

See smack defined for English-language learners

Examples of smack in a Sentence

  1. She dropped the book smack in the middle of the table.

  2. The ball hit me smack in the face.

First Known Use of smack

1782

in the meaning defined above

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7

smack

noun
slang
: heroin

Origin and Etymology of smack

perhaps from Yiddish shmek sniff, whiff, pinch (of snuff)

Phrases Related to SMACK

Related Phrases

SMACK Defined for English Language Learners

smack

adverb

  • : exactly or directly

SMACK Defined for Kids

1

smack

verb \ ˈsmak \
smacked; smacking
1 : to make or give a noisy slap
2 : to close and open the lips noisily especially in eating
3 : to kiss usually loudly or hard
2

smack

noun
1 : a noisy slap or blow
2 : a quick sharp noise made by the lips (as in enjoyment of some taste)
3 : a loud kiss
3

smack

adverb
: in a square and sharp manner : directly
  • One side of the house … was smack up against the mountain …
  • —Virginia Hamilton, M. C. Higgins
4

smack

verb
smacked; smacking
: to seem to contain or involve
  • The remark smacks of spite.
5

smack

noun
: a slight taste, trace, or touch of something
  • I had always my eye open for seafaring men … and … he had a smack of the sea about him …
  • —Robert Louis Stevenson, Treasure Island

Learn More about smack

  1. See words that rhyme with smack Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for smack Spanish Central: Translation of smack Nglish: Translation of smack for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of smack for Arabic speakers

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