Library / English Dictionary

TUCK

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

A straight sword with a narrow blade and two edges

Synonyms:

rapier; tuck

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("tuck" is a kind of...):

blade; brand; steel; sword (a cutting or thrusting weapon that has a long metal blade and a hilt with a hand guard)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A narrow flattened pleat or fold that is stitched in place

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("tuck" is a kind of...):

plait; pleat (any of various types of fold formed by doubling fabric back upon itself and then pressing or stitching into shape)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "tuck"):

dart (a tapered tuck made in dressmaking)

Derivation:

tuck (draw together into folds or puckers)

Sense 3

Meaning:

(sports) a bodily position adopted in some sports (such as diving or skiing) in which the knees are bent and the thighs are drawn close to the chest

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Hypernyms ("tuck" is a kind of...):

attitude; position; posture (the arrangement of the body and its limbs)

Domain category:

athletics; sport (an active diversion requiring physical exertion and competition)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Eatables (especially sweets)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting foods and drinks

Hypernyms ("tuck" is a kind of...):

comestible; eatable; edible; pabulum; victual; victuals (any substance that can be used as food)

Domain region:

Britain; Great Britain; U.K.; UK; United Kingdom; United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (a monarchy in northwestern Europe occupying most of the British Isles; divided into England and Scotland and Wales and Northern Ireland; 'Great Britain' is often used loosely to refer to the United Kingdom)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Draw together into folds or puckers

Synonyms:

gather; pucker; tuck

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "tuck" is one way to...):

run up; sew; sew together; stitch (fasten by sewing; do needlework)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

tuck (a narrow flattened pleat or fold that is stitched in place)

tucker (a sewer who tucks)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Fit snugly into

Example:

tuck your shirttail in

Synonyms:

insert; tuck

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "tuck" is one way to...):

close in; enclose; inclose; shut in (surround completely)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something PP

Sentence example:

They tuck the books into the box

Sense 3

Meaning:

Make a tuck or several folds in

Example:

tuck in the sheet

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "tuck" is one way to...):

fold; fold up; turn up (bend or lay so that one part covers the other)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

tucker (a sewer who tucks)

Credits

 Context examples: 

Long did the hours seem while I waited the departure of the company, and listened for the sound of Bessie's step on the stairs: sometimes she would come up in the interval to seek her thimble or her scissors, or perhaps to bring me something by way of supper—a bun or a cheese-cake—then she would sit on the bed while I ate it, and when I had finished, she would tuck the clothes round me, and twice she kissed me, and said, Good night, Miss Jane.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

I did not wake her, but tucked her up warmly; I have taken care that the door is locked and the window securely fastened.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

So I tucked a blanket and pillow under my arm and went up on deck.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

“Her mother let down two tucks in her frocks only last week. Such is time, you see, sir!”

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

"As sure as this is my girl!" and Laurie tucked her hand under his arm with the air of a man whose every wish was gratified.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

A gilt harp, blotched with many stains and with two of its strings missing, was tucked under one of his arms, while with the other he scooped greedily at his platter.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

They wore high boots, with their trousers tucked into them, and had long black hair and heavy black moustaches.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

“Well, sir,” he said, bowing and chuckling, and tucking in the ends of his neckerchief at his breast: “I thankee, sir, I thankee! I do my endeavours in my line of life, sir.”

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

My only comfort, she said to Meg, with tears in her eyes, is that Mother doesn't take tucks in my dresses whenever I'm naughty, as Maria Parks's mother does.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Round the corner of the narrow street there came rushing a brace of whining dogs with tails tucked under their legs, and after them a white-faced burgher, with outstretched hands and wide-spread fingers, his hair all abristle and his eyes glinting back from one shoulder to the other, as though some great terror were at his very heels.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)