tuck

[ tuhk ]

/ tʌk /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR tuck ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object)

to put into a small, close, or concealing place: Tuck the money into your wallet.

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.

to cover snugly in or as if in this manner: She tucked the children into bed.

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.

Needlework. to sew tucks in.

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

Informal. to eat or drink (usually followed by in, away, etc.): He tucked away a big meal.

verb (used without object)

to draw together; contract; pucker.

Needlework. to make tucks.

to fit securely or snugly: a bed that tucks into the corner.

noun

something tucked or folded in.

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.

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.Compare layout(def 10), pike⁷.

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.

Informal. a plastic surgery operation: a tummy tuck.

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

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

British Slang. food.

Verb Phrases

tuck into, to eat with gusto: We tucked into a roast beef dinner.

Nearby words

tuc, tucana, tuchis, tuchman, tuchun, tuck, tuck away, tuck in, tuck into, tuck shop, tuck-point

Origin of tuck

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. See tow¹

Related forms

un·tucked, adjective

Definition for tuck (2 of 4)

tuck

[ tuhk ]

/ tʌk /

noun Informal.

tuxedo.

Origin of tuck

by shortening and respelling

Definition for tuck (3 of 4)

tuck

[ tuhk ]

/ tʌk /

noun Archaic.

a rapier or estoc.

Origin of tuck

1500–10; earlier tocke, apparently sandhi variant of obsolete stock sword < Italian stocco < German Stock stick; cognate with stock

Definition for tuck (4 of 4)

tuck

⁴

[ tuhk ]

/ tʌk /

noun Chiefly Scot.

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

Origin of tuck

⁴

1300–50; Middle English tukken to beat, sound (said of a drum) < Middle French (north) toker to strike, touch. See touch

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for tuck

She will then, at a time of her choosing, tuck it, say, into my carry-on bag just before I leave on a research trip.
How I Write: Erik Larson Revisits ‘Isaac’s Storm’|Noah Charney|October 31, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Mount Saint Vincent and Tuck provided me with both an excellent education and a group of lifelong friends.
Industry Trailblazer to Aspiring Women Pros: Stand Up and Be Counted|Daily Beast Promotions|November 14, 2011|DAILY BEAST
Following college, I was encouraged to apply to The Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth.
Industry Trailblazer to Aspiring Women Pros: Stand Up and Be Counted|Daily Beast Promotions|November 14, 2011|DAILY BEAST
You wrap the fabric around yourself once, tuck the top into your half-slip, fold a few pleats, and tuck them into the same slip.
My Mother's Last Sari|Madhulika Sikka|May 7, 2010|DAILY BEAST

The rest of us simply need to tuck the tabloids back on the shelf and focus on our own lives.
Tiger's Thing for White Girls|Elizabeth Gates|December 8, 2009|DAILY BEAST
Then tuck as much cake and fruit into your pocket as it will hold.
Marjorie's Three Gifts|Louisa May Alcott
When they tuck a ninety-nine year clause into a franchise they mean it's forever, don't they?
Then I'll Come Back to You|Larry Evans
Wasn't she a beautiful creature when Lady S——— tuck her into the family, an' reared her till she was fit to wait upon herself.
The Dead Boxer|William Carleton
He des tuck'n tuck he stan' und' de tree, en he open he mouf, he did, en wait fer de 'simmons fer ter drap in dar.
Nights With Uncle Remus|Joel Chandler Harris
The landlady at Allonby was immensely fat, and her husband said that once on a time he could tuck his arm round her waist.
Springtime and Other Essays|Francis Darwin

British Dictionary definitions for tuck (1 of 4)

tuck

/ (tʌk) /

verb

(tr) to push or fold into a small confined space or concealed place or between two surfacesto tuck a letter into an envelope

(tr) to thrust the loose ends or sides of (something) into a confining space, so as to make neat and secureto tuck the sheets under the mattress

to make a tuck or tucks in (a garment)

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

noun

a tucked object or part

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

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

British

an informal or schoolchild's word for food, esp cakes and sweets
(as modifier)a tuck box

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

Word Origin for tuck

C14: from Old English tūcian to torment; related to Middle Dutch tucken to tug, Old High German zucchen to twitch

British Dictionary definitions for tuck (2 of 4)

tuck

/ (tʌk) /

noun

archaic a rapier

Word Origin for tuck

C16: from French estoc sword, from Old French: tree trunk, sword, of Germanic origin

British Dictionary definitions for tuck (3 of 4)

tuck

/ (tʌk) dialect /

noun

a touch, blow, or stroke

verb

(tr) to touch or strike

(intr) to throb or bump

Word Origin for tuck

C16: from Middle English tukken to beat a drum, from Old Northern French toquer to touch; compare tucket

British Dictionary definitions for tuck (4 of 4)

Tuck

/ (tʌk) /

noun

See Friar Tuck

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Idioms and Phrases with tuck

tuck

In addition to the idioms beginning with tuck

tuck away
tuck in
tuck into

also see:

nip and tuck