tuck

1 of 5

verb

ˈtək 

tucked; tucking; tucks

transitive verb

1

a

: to push in the loose end of so as to hold tightly

tuck in your shirt

b

: to cover by tucking in bedclothes

—usually used with in

2

: to put into a snug often concealing or isolating place

a cottage tucked away in the hill

3

: eat

—usually used with away or in

tucked away a big lunch

4

a

: to pull up into a fold

b

: to make a tuck in

5

: to put into a tuck position

intransitive verb

1

: to draw together into tucks or folds

2

: to eat or drink heartily

—usually used with into

tucked into their beer and pretzels

3

: to fit snugly

tuck

2 of 5

noun (1)

1

: a fold stitched into cloth to shorten, decorate, or control fullness

2

: a cosmetic surgical operation for the removal of excess skin or fat from a body part

a tummy tuck

3

a

: a body position (as in diving) in which the knees are bent, the thighs drawn tightly to the chest, and the hands clasped around the shins

b

: a skiing position in which the skier squats forward and holds the ski poles under the arms and parallel to the ground

4

: the part of a vessel where the ends of the lower planks meet under the stern

5

a

: an act or instance of tucking

b

: something tucked or to be tucked in

tuck

3 of 5

noun (2)

: a sound of or as if of a drumbeat

tuck

4 of 5

noun (3)

: vigor, energy

seemed to kind of take the tuck all out of me

—Mark Twain

tuck

5 of 5

noun (4)

archaic

: rapier

Synonyms

Verb

• consume
• eat
• ingest
• partake (of)
• put away
• put down

Examples of tuck in a Sentence

Verb

She hadn't sealed the envelope, but had simply tucked in the flap.

Instead of tying his shoes, he just tucked the laces inside.

The sheets were tucked tightly under the mattress.

A bag was tucked under her arm.

She tucked her hair up under her hat.

The dog tucked its tail between its legs and slinked away.

The bird slept with its head tucked under its wing.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

And soon she’ll be tucked away in an ivory tower with an immaculate, ceaseless view of the city — perhaps the cruelest of all fates at the end of The Penguin. —Andy Andersen, Vulture, 10 Nov. 2024

This has to be my absolute favorite market, tucked right behind the Vatican. —Roger Sands, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024

Noun

Abdominoplasties, or tummy tucks, carry the greatest statistical risk—about four times the complication rate of other procedures, at four percent. —Brennan Kilbane, Allure, 16 Oct. 2024

Enlarge / Physicist Martin Bier in an aerodynamic tuck, a cycling position that reduces wind resistance. —Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 25 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English tuken to mistreat, finish (cloth) by stretching and beating, tuck, from Old English tūcian to mistreat; akin to Old High German zuhhen to jerk, Old English togian to pull — more at tow

Noun (2)

Middle English (Scots) tuicke beat, stroke

Noun (3)

probably from tuck entry 2

Noun (4)

Middle French estoc, from Old French, sword point, from estochier to strike with the sword tip, thrust, of Germanic origin; akin to Middle Dutch stoken to thrust, poke — more at stoke

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 4a

Noun (1)

1532, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (3)

1878, in the meaning defined above

Noun (4)

1508, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing tuck

• nip and tuck
• tuck in
• tuck-point
• tuck up

Kids Definition

tuck

1 of 2 verb

ˈtək 

1

a

: to pull up into a fold

b

: to make a tuck in

2

: to put or fit into a snug or safe place

tucked their money away in the bank

our lunch tucked in a basket

3

a

: to push in the loose end of so as to hold tightly

tuck in your shirt

b

: to cover by tucking in bedclothes

a child tucked in for the night

tuck

2 of 2 noun

1

: a fold stitched into cloth (as in a garment)

2

: an act or instance of tucking

Medical Definition

tuck

noun

ˈtək 

: a cosmetic surgical operation for the removal of excess skin or fat from a body part see tummy tuck