To emit a strong, unpleasant odor, or to be of very poor quality or morally objectionable.
From Old English 'stincan' meaning 'to emit a smell,' related to Germanic roots. The metaphorical extension to mean 'be of poor quality' developed in the 19th century, showing how sensory disgust translates to general disapproval.
The evolution of 'stink' from literal smell to metaphorical badness reveals how deeply our moral judgments are rooted in physical disgust. When we say something 'stinks,' we're unconsciously linking it to one of our most primitive warning systems - the ability to detect danger through smell.
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