tuck

¹

[ tuhk ]

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.

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. Compare layout ( def 10 ), pike ⁷( def ).
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. to eat with gusto:

   We tucked into a roast beef dinner.

tuck

²

[ tuhk ]

noun

, Informal.

1. tuxedo.

tuck

³

[ tuhk ]

noun

, Archaic.

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

tuck

⁴

[ tuhk ]

noun

, Chiefly Scot.

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

tuck

¹

/ tʌk /

noun

1. archaic.
   a rapier

tuck

²

/ 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

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

³

/ tʌk /

noun

1. a touch, blow, or stroke

verb

1. tr to touch or strike
2. intr to throb or bump

Tuck

⁴

/ tʌk /

noun

1. See Friar Tuck

Other Words From

• un·tucked adjective

Word History and Origins

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of tuck¹

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

Origin of tuck²

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

Origin of tuck³

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

Idioms and Phrases

• nip and tuck

Example Sentences

You could hear it being whispered in the breakfast hall of the Malaga hotel where travelling British fans were tucking into their Spanish tortilla.

From BBC

In a picture probably from the late 1940s he wears a flannel shirt tucked into trousers.

From Salon

The TV chef declares it is her "favourite time of year" before tucking into festive bakes.

From BBC

While it may be true that we spend a fair share of our time on freeways, there are thriving pedestrian-friendly pockets tucked all around our unwieldy city.

From Los Angeles Times

They were looking for the source of a leak in the roof, but tucked inside a cubbyhole were the "skeletal remains", Mr Glady said.

From BBC

Related Words

• insert
• pinch
• wrap