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.

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

OTHER WORDS FROM tuck

un·tucked, adjective

Words nearby tuck

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

British Dictionary definitions for tuck in (1 of 5)

tuck in

verb (adverb)

Also: tuck into (tr) to put to bed and make snug

(tr) to thrust the loose ends or sides of (something) into a confining space

Also: tuck into (intr) informal to eat, esp heartily

noun tuck-in

British informal a meal, esp a large one

British Dictionary definitions for tuck in (2 of 5)

tuck ¹

/ (tʌk) /

verb

(tr) to push or fold into a small confined space or concealed place or between two surfaces to 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 secure to 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 in (3 of 5)

tuck ²

/ (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 in (4 of 5)

tuck ³

/ (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 in (5 of 5)

Tuck

/ (tʌk) /

noun

See Friar Tuck

Idioms and Phrases with tuck in (1 of 2)

tuck in

Thrust in the edge of or end of something, such as bed linens or a shirt; also, make a child secure in bed by folding in the bedclothes. For example, Tuck in your shirt; it looks awful hanging out of your pants, or Mother went upstairs to tuck in the children. [First half of 1600s]

Idioms and Phrases with tuck in (2 of 2)

tuck

In addition to the idioms beginning with tuck

tuck away
tuck in
tuck into

also see:

nip and tuck

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

tuck

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

noun

Verb Phrases

Origin of tuck

OTHER WORDS FROM tuck

Words nearby tuck

British Dictionary definitions for tuck in (1 of 5)

verb (adverb)

noun tuck-in

British Dictionary definitions for tuck in (2 of 5)

verb

noun

Word Origin for tuck

British Dictionary definitions for tuck in (3 of 5)

noun

Word Origin for tuck

British Dictionary definitions for tuck in (4 of 5)

noun

verb

Word Origin for tuck

British Dictionary definitions for tuck in (5 of 5)

noun

Idioms and Phrases with tuck in (1 of 2)

Idioms and Phrases with tuck in (2 of 2)

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

tuck

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

noun

Verb Phrases

Origin of tuck

OTHER WORDS FROM tuck

Words nearby tuck

Words related to tuck in

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for tuck in (1 of 5)

verb (adverb)

noun tuck-in

British Dictionary definitions for tuck in (2 of 5)

verb

noun

Word Origin for tuck

British Dictionary definitions for tuck in (3 of 5)

noun

Word Origin for tuck

British Dictionary definitions for tuck in (4 of 5)

noun

verb

Word Origin for tuck

British Dictionary definitions for tuck in (5 of 5)

noun

Idioms and Phrases with tuck in (1 of 2)

Idioms and Phrases with tuck in (2 of 2)

British Dictionary definitions for tuck in (1 of 5)