tuck

The definition of a tuck is a fold in fabric or a surgical procedure in which excess fat is removed.

(noun)

  1. An example of a tuck is little folds in the bottom of drapes.
  2. An example of a tuck is when a woman has a tummy tuck to remove fat from her belly.

To tuck is to put the edges of fabric inside or under something, to fold a part of something (such as your body) under something else or to put something away in a specific place.

(verb)

  1. An example of tuck is when you tuck your shirt in or put the bottom tails of your shirt into your paints so they can't be seen.
  2. An example of tuck is when you tuck your child in or fold the covers up over your child in bed.
  3. An example of tuck is when you tuck your legs under you or move them underneath your body.
  4. An example of tuck is when you put your passport away in a special little compartment of your purse so you don't lose it.

YourDictionary definition and usage example. Copyright © 2013 by LoveToKnow Corp.

See tuck in Webster's New World College Dictionary

transitive verb

  1. to pull up or gather up in a fold or folds; draw together so as to make shorter: to tuck up one's skirt for wading
  2. to sew a fold or folds in (a garment)
    1. to thrust the edges of (a sheet, napkin, shirt, etc.) under or in, in order to make secure: usually with up, in, etc.
    2. to cover or wrap snugly in or as in this way: to tuck a baby in bed
  3. to put or press snugly into a small space; cram; fit: to tuck shoes in a suitcase
    1. to put into an empty or convenient place
    2. to put into a secluded or isolated spot: a cabin tucked in the hills
  4. to put (one's legs) in the position of a tuck ()

Origin: ME tuken < MDu tucken, to tuck & OE tucian, to ill-treat, lit., to tug, akin to Ger zucken, to jerk: for IE base see tug

intransitive verb

  1. to draw together; pucker
  2. to make tucks

noun

  1. a sewed fold in a garment, for shortening or decoration
  2. the part of a ship under the stern where the ends of the bottom planks meet
  3. a position of the body, esp. in diving, in which the knees are drawn up tightly to the chest
  4. Brit., Slang food; esp., sweets: used mainly by schoolchildren
  5. Informal plastic surgery, esp. for cosmetic reasons, in which excess skin or fat is removed from the lower abdomen, from around the eyes, etc.

noun

Archaic a rapier

Origin: Fr estoc < OFr estoquier < MDu stocken, to stick, pierce, poke < stok: see stock

transitive verb

Scot. to beat or tap (a drum)

Origin: ME tukken < NormFr toker, toquer, var. of OFr toucher, to touch

noun

a beat or tap, as on a drum

noun

tuxedo

See tuck in American Heritage Dictionary 4

verb tucked, tuck·ing, tucks
verb, transitive
  1. To make one or more folds in: tucked the pleats before sewing the hem.
  2. To gather up and fold, thrust, or turn in so as to secure or confine: She tucked her scarf into her blouse.
  3. a. To put in a snug spot.
    b. To put in an out-of-the-way, snug place: a cabin that was tucked among the pines.
    c. To store in a safe spot; save: tuck away a bit of lace; tuck away millions.
  4. a. To draw in; contract: He tucked his chin into his chest.
    b. Sports To bring (a body part) into a tuck position.
verb, intransitive
To make tucks.
noun
  1. The act of tucking.
  2. A flattened pleat or fold, especially a very narrow one stitched in place.
  3. Nautical The part of a ship's hull under the stern where the ends of the bottom planks come together.
  4. Sports
    a. A bodily position used in some sports, such as diving, in which the knees are bent and the thighs are drawn close to the chest, with the hands often clasped around the shins.
    b. A position in skiing in which the skier squats while holding the poles parallel to the ground and under the arms.
  5. Chiefly British Food, especially sweets and pastry.
Phrasal Verbs: tuck away/into Informal To consume (food) heartily. tuck in To make (a child, for example) secure in bed for sleep, especially by tucking bedclothes into the bed.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English tukken

Origin: , possibly from Middle Low German

Origin: or Middle Dutch tocken, tucken

.

noun
A beat or tap, especially on a drum.

Origin:

Origin: From Middle English tukken, to beat a drum

Origin: , from Old North French toquer, to strike

Origin: , from Vulgar Latin *toccāre

.

noun
Archaic
A slender sword; a rapier.

Origin:

Origin: Perhaps from French dialectal étoc

Origin: , from Old French estoc

Origin: , of Germanic origin

.

noun
Energy; vigor.

Origin:

Origin: Origin unknown

.

Learn more about tuck

Related Articles

link/cite print suggestion box