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.
BritishSlang. food.
Verb Phrases
tuck into,to eat with gusto: We tucked into a roast beef dinner.
Origin of tuck
1
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
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 /
nounChiefly 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
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
See also tuck away, tuck in
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
archaica 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