tuck

[ tuhk ]

/ tʌk /

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.

QUIZZES

DISCOVER THE INFLUENCE OF PORTUGUESE ON ENGLISH VIA THIS QUIZ!

We’ve gathered some interesting words donated to English from Portuguese … as well as some that just don’t translate at all. Do you know what they mean?

Question 1 of 11

Which of the following animal names traces its immediate origin to Portuguese?

owl

crow

piranha

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Origin of tuck

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”; see tow¹

OTHER WORDS FROM tuck

un·tucked, adjective

Words nearby tuck

tubus, TUC, Tucana, Tuchman, tuchun, tuck, tuckahoe, tuck away, tuckaway table, tucker, tucker-bag

Definition for tuck (2 of 4)

tuck²

[ tuhk ]

/ tʌk /

noun Informal.

tuxedo.

Origin of tuck

By shortening and respelling

Definition for tuck (3 of 4)

tuck³

[ tuhk ]

/ tʌk /

noun Archaic.

a rapier, estoc, or other thrusting sword.

Origin of tuck

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

Definition for tuck (4 of 4)

tuck⁴

[ tuhk ]

/ tʌk /

noun Chiefly Scot.

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

Origin of tuck

⁴

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Example sentences from the Web for tuck

Pre-pandemic, Cassileth says business was good as patients had more disposable income, and were excited to do popular procedures like liposuction, breast implants, and tummy tucks.
The Zoom effect: Why plastic surgery and cosmetic procedures might be more popular because of the pandemic|Rachel King|October 3, 2020|Fortune
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)

tuck¹

/ (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)

tuck²

/ (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)

tuck³

/ (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

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tuck

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

noun

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Origin of tuck

OTHER WORDS FROM tuck

Words nearby tuck

Definition for tuck (2 of 4)

noun Informal.

Origin of tuck

Definition for tuck (3 of 4)

noun Archaic.

Origin of tuck

Definition for tuck (4 of 4)

noun Chiefly Scot.

Origin of tuck

Example sentences from the Web for tuck

British Dictionary definitions for tuck (1 of 4)

verb

noun

Word Origin for tuck

British Dictionary definitions for tuck (2 of 4)

noun

Word Origin for tuck

British Dictionary definitions for tuck (3 of 4)

noun

verb

Word Origin for tuck

British Dictionary definitions for tuck (4 of 4)

noun

Idioms and Phrases with tuck

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

LEARN

WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

tuck

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

noun

Verb Phrases

QUIZZES

DISCOVER THE INFLUENCE OF PORTUGUESE ON ENGLISH VIA THIS QUIZ!

Origin of tuck

OTHER WORDS FROM tuck

Words nearby tuck

Definition for tuck (2 of 4)

noun Informal.

Origin of tuck

Definition for tuck (3 of 4)

noun Archaic.

Origin of tuck

Definition for tuck (4 of 4)

noun Chiefly Scot.

Origin of tuck

Words related to tuck

Example sentences from the Web for tuck

British Dictionary definitions for tuck (1 of 4)

verb

noun

Word Origin for tuck

British Dictionary definitions for tuck (2 of 4)

noun

Word Origin for tuck

British Dictionary definitions for tuck (3 of 4)

noun

verb

Word Origin for tuck

British Dictionary definitions for tuck (4 of 4)

noun

Idioms and Phrases with tuck