tuck

¹ American  

[tuhk] / tʌk /

verb (used with object)

1. to put into a small, close, or concealing place.

   Tuck the money into your wallet.

2. to thrust in the loose end or edge of (a garment, covering, etc.) so as to hold closely in place (usually followed by in, up, under, etc.).

   Tuck in your blouse.

   Tuck the edge of the sheet under the mattress.

3. to cover snugly in or as if in this manner.

   She tucked the children into bed.

4. to pull up into a fold or folds; draw up into a folded arrangement (usually followed by in, up, etc.).

   to tuck up one's skirts;

   to tuck one's knees under one's chin.

5. Needlework.  to sew tucks in.

6. to pass (a strand) above or below another one.

7. Informal.  to eat or drink (usually followed by in, away, etc.).

   He tucked away a big meal.

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verb (used without object)

1. to draw together; contract; pucker.

2. Needlework.  to make tucks.

3. to fit securely or snugly.

   a bed that tucks into the corner.

4. to secure one's penis between one's legs so that the crotch is flat, often done by gender-diverse people as part of their gender expression.

   When I'm performing, I usually tuck, because it makes me feel more confident.

noun

1. something tucked or folded in.

2. Sewing.  a fold, or one of a series of folds, made by doubling cloth upon itself and stitching parallel with the edge of the fold, used for decoration or for shortening or fitting a garment.

3. Diving, Gymnastics.  a body position in which the head is lowered and the thighs held against the chest with the knees bent and the arms locked around the shins.

4. Skiing.  a crouch in which the ski poles are held close to the chest, extending back under the arms and parallel to the ground, as to maximize speed downhill.

5. Informal.  a plastic surgery operation.

   a tummy tuck.

6. Nautical.  the part of a vessel where the after ends of the outside planking or plating unite at the sternpost.

7. (in tying knots) the operation of passing one strand above or below another.

8. British Slang.  food.

verb phrase

1. tuck into  to eat with gusto.

   We tucked into a roast beef dinner.

tuck ² American  

[tuhk] / tʌk /

noun

Informal.

1. tuxedo.

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tuck ³ American  

[tuhk] / tʌk /

noun

Archaic.

1. a rapier, estoc, or other thrusting sword.

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tuck ⁴ American  

[tuhk] / tʌk /

noun

Chiefly Scot.

1. a drumbeat or the sound of one beat on a drum.

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tuck ¹ British  

/ tʌk /

verb

1. (tr) to push or fold into a small confined space or concealed place or between two surfaces

   to tuck a letter into an envelope

2. (tr) to thrust the loose ends or sides of (something) into a confining space, so as to make neat and secure

   to tuck the sheets under the mattress

3. to make a tuck or tucks in (a garment)

4. (usually tr) to draw together, contract, or pucker

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noun

1. a tucked object or part

2. a pleat or fold in a part of a garment, usually stitched down so as to make it a better fit or as decoration

3. the part of a vessel where the after ends of the planking or plating meet at the sternpost

4. 1. an informal or schoolchild's word for food, esp cakes and sweets

   2. ( as modifier )

      a tuck box

5. a position of the body in certain dives in which the legs are bent with the knees drawn up against the chest and tightly clasped

tuck ² British  

/ tʌk /

noun

1. a touch, blow, or stroke

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verb

1. (tr) to touch or strike

2. (intr) to throb or bump

Tuck ³ British  

/ tʌk /

noun

1. See Friar Tuck

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tuck ⁴ British  

/ tʌk /

noun

1. archaic  a rapier

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tuck Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing tuck

• nip and tuck

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Other Word Forms

• untucked adjective

Etymology

Origin of tuck¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English t(o)uken “to stretch (cloth), torment,” Old English tūcian “to torment”; akin to Middle Low German tucken “to tug,” German zucken “to jerk”; tow ¹

Origin of tuck²

By shortening and respelling

Origin of tuck³

First recorded in 1500–10; earlier tocke, apparently phonetic variant of obsolete stock “sword,” from Italian stocco, from German Stock “stick”; cognate with stock

Origin of tuck⁴

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English tukken “to beat, sound (said of a drum),” from Middle French (north) toker “to strike, touch”; touch

Example Sentences

Shaking out the bedding provided in a brown paper bag, I watched my fellow passengers make up their berths, tucking in starched sheets with the ease of seasoned travelers.

From The Wall Street Journal

Mr. Le Tellier takes an archivist’s approach, including reproductions of documents, letters and photographs of Chaix, a handsome young man who wore T-shirts tucked into darted pants.

From The Wall Street Journal

To prepare, simply place the half turkey on a baking sheet, tuck the butter disk between the skin and breast and roast in the oven.

From Salon

According to the listing, the property is a “one-of-a-kind, custom-built all-stone estate tucked away on a very serene and private beautifully landscaped acres.”

From MarketWatch

As the helium hisses out, the volunteers flatten the plastic skin, tucking in Snoopy’s ears or SpongeBob’s nose to prepare for the final roll.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• insert
• pinch
• wrap