Definition of 'smack'
Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular present tense smacks
, present participle smacking
, past tense, past participle smacked
2. verb
3. verb
4. adverb
[informal]
5. uncountable noun
6.
See smack one's lips
Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
British English pronunciation
American English pronunciation
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Word Frequency
smack in British English 1
noun
1.
verb (intransitive; foll by of)
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word origin
Old English smæc; related to Old High German smoc, Icelandic smekkr a taste, Dutch smaakWord Frequency
smack in British English 2
verb
2.
to strike or send forcibly or loudly or to be struck or sent forcibly or loudly
noun
6.
a loud kiss
7.
a sharp sound made by the lips, as in enjoyment
8. See have a smack at
9. See smack in the eye
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word origin
C16: from Middle Low German or Middle Dutch smacken, probably of imitative origin
Word Frequency
smack in British English 3
noun
a slang word for heroin
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word origin
C20: perhaps from Yiddish schmeckWord Frequency
smack in British English 4
noun
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word origin
C17: from Low German smack or Dutch smak, of unknown origin
Word Frequency
smack in American English 1
noun
1.
2.
a loud kiss
verb transitive
4.
to press (the lips) together and part them suddenly so as to make a smack
5.
to kiss loudly
6.
to slap loudly
verb intransitive
7.
to make a loud, sharp noise, as on impact
adverb
8.
with or as with a smack; violently; sharply
Idioms:
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Word origin
< ? or akin to MDu smack, LowG smacke, of echoic orig.
Word Frequency
smack in American English 2
noun
1.
a distinctive taste or flavor, esp. one that is faint or slight
verb intransitive
3.
to have a smack (of)
diction that smacks of the stage
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Word origin
ME smac < OE smæc, akin to Ger (ge)schmack < IE base *smeg(h)-, to taste > Lith smaguriaúti, to nibble
Word Frequency
smack in American English 3
noun
2.
a fishing boat with a well for keeping fish alive
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Word origin
prob. < Du smak (> Dan smakke, Sp zumaca) < smacken, to slap, smack2: from the flapping sail
Word Frequency
smack in American English 1
(smæk)
noun
1.
a taste or flavor, esp. a slight flavor distinctive or suggestive of something
The chicken had just a smack of garlic
2.
a trace, touch, or suggestion of something
3.
a taste, mouthful, or small quantity
intransitive verb
SYNONYMS 1. savor. 2. hint. 4. taste, suggest.4.
to have a taste, flavor, trace, or suggestion
Your politeness smacks of condescension
Most material © 2005, 1997, 1991 by Penguin Random House LLC. Modified entries © 2019
by Penguin Random House LLC and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Word origin
[bef. 1000; (n.) ME smacke, OE smæc; c. MLG smak, G Geschmack taste; (v.) ME smacken to perceive by taste, have a (specified) taste, deriv. of the n.; cf. G schmacken]Word Frequency
smack in American English 2
(smæk)
transitive verb
1.
to strike sharply, esp. with the open hand or a flat object
3.
4.
to kiss with or as with a loud sound
intransitive verb
5.
to smack the lips
7.
to make a sharp sound as of striking against something
noun
8.
a sharp, resounding blow, esp. with something flat
9.
a smacking of the lips, as in relish or anticipation
10.
a resounding or loud kiss
adverb informal
11.
suddenly and violently
He rode smack up against the side of the house
Most material © 2005, 1997, 1991 by Penguin Random House LLC. Modified entries © 2019
by Penguin Random House LLC and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Word origin
[1550–60; imit.; cf. D, LG smakken, G (dial.) schmacken]Word Frequency
smack in American English 3
(smæk)
noun
1. Eastern U.S.
a fishing vessel, esp. one having a well for keeping the catch alive
Most material © 2005, 1997, 1991 by Penguin Random House LLC. Modified entries © 2019
by Penguin Random House LLC and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Word origin
[1605–15; ‹ D smak]Word Frequency
smack in American English 4
(smæk)
noun
slang
heroin
Most material © 2005, 1997, 1991 by Penguin Random House LLC. Modified entries © 2019
by Penguin Random House LLC and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Word origin
[1960–65; prob. special use of smack1; cf. earlier slang schmeck with same sense (‹ Yiddish shmek sniff, whiff; cf. MHG smecken (G schmecken) to taste)]Examples of 'smack' in a sentence
smack
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smack
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In other languages
smack
- American English: smack /ˈsmæk/
- Arabic: يَضْرِبُ
- Brazilian Portuguese: dar uma palmada
- Chinese: 掌击
- Croatian: udariti
- Czech: plácnout rukou
- Danish: smække
- Dutch: slaan
- European Spanish: dar un manotazo
- Finnish: läimäyttää
- French: gifler
- German: hauen
- Greek: ραπίζω
- Italian: sculacciare
- Japanese: ピシャリと打つ
- Korean: 세게 때리다
- Norwegian: klaske
- Polish: trzasnąć
- European Portuguese: dar uma palmada
- Romanian: a pălmui
- Russian: отшлепать
- Latin American Spanish: dar un manotazo
- Swedish: slå smiska
- Thai: ตีหรือฟาดด้วยมือ
- Turkish: tokat atmak
- Ukrainian: ляскати
- Vietnamese: phát
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smack
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smack
Source
Definition of smack from the Collins English Dictionary
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