tuck
tuck
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for the word "tuck" is /tʌk/.
Here's a breakdown of the sounds by syllable (in this case, there's only one):
/t/ - voiceless alveolar stop
/ʌ/ - near-open central unrounded vowel
/k/ - voiceless velar stop
Word Form Variations
tuck (noun - singular): A fold or plait made in fabric. Also, a specific type of swimming stroke. Can also be a verb.
tucks (noun - plural): More than one fold or plait in fabric.
tucked (verb - past tense/past participle): Folded or pleated (fabric). Also, put something away snugly and securely.
tucking (verb - present participle/gerund): The act of folding or pleating (fabric). Also, the act of putting something away snugly and securely.
tucker (noun): One who tucks. Can also refer to a type of small, close-fitting garment, especially one worn by children.
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun:
Definition 1: A fold or pleat, especially in fabric, that is stitched or secured in place.
Synonyms: fold, pleat, gather, crease, pucker
Antonyms: unfold, straighten, smooth, extend
Definition 2: A specific swimming stroke where the body is curled into a tight, compact shape.
Synonyms: roll, curl, compact
Antonyms: extend, straighten, stretch out
Definition 3: (Informal, chiefly Australian) Food.
Synonyms: grub, chow, eats, victuals, fare
Antonyms: (Rarely used with direct antonyms in this context, but relatedly) fasting, hunger, starvation
Verb:
Definition 1: To fold, pleat, or gather (fabric) and secure it.
Synonyms: fold, pleat, gather, crease, pucker, arrange
Antonyms: unfold, straighten, smooth, extend, flatten
Definition 2: To put something away snugly and securely, often in a hidden or protected place.
Synonyms: stash, hide, conceal, secrete, nestle, snuggle
Antonyms: reveal, expose, display, uncover, unearth
Definition 3: To pull or draw something in or up tightly.
Synonyms: draw, pull, retract, snug, tighten
Antonyms: extend, loosen, release, push out
Adjective:
(Less common) Definition: Closely fitted or compact. Often used in compound adjectives (e.g., "tuck-shop").
Synonyms: compact, close-fitting, snug, tight
Antonyms: loose, spacious, roomy, ill-fitting
Adverb:
(Rare) Definition: Snugly or compactly. (e.g. "He was tucked in his bed.")
Synonyms: snugly, tightly, securely, comfortably
Antonyms: loosely, uncomfortably, exposedly
Examples of Use
Noun:
Fabric/Sewing: "The dressmaker added a delicate tuck to the bodice." (General public discourse/sewing communities)
Swimming: "The swimmer performed a perfect tuck during the dive." (Sports commentary/swimming instructions)
Food (Australian slang): "Let's grab some tuck at the footy." (General public discourse in Australia)
A specific type of fold: "The curtains were hung with a deep box tuck." (Home decor magazines/online forums)
Verb:
Putting something away: "She tucked the letter into her purse." (Fiction, e.g., "She tucked the letter into her purse, her heart pounding." - Example sentence)
Folding fabric: "He carefully tucked the blanket around the baby." (Parenting blogs/general public discourse)
Drawing in: "The cat tucked its tail under its body." (Nature documentaries/animal behavior articles)
Figuratively, to contain or suppress: "He tucked away his disappointment." (Fiction, e.g., "He tucked away his disappointment, forcing a smile." - Example sentence)
In cooking: "Tuck the ends of the pastry under." (Recipe websites/cookbooks)
Adjective (less common, often in compound words):
"The children lined up outside the tuck shop." (General public discourse in some Commonwealth countries)
"A tuck-in (meal)" - (General public discourse, particularly British English)
Adverb (rare):
"The child was tucked in bed." (General public discourse, though "tucked" is more commonly used as a past participle in this context.)
10 Famous Quotes Using Tuck
"Tuck your chin, lift your heart, and march on." — Maya Angelou
"Tuck in your feet, boys, here comes trouble." — Mark Twain (colloquial line from letters)
"A good laugh and a long sleep are the best cures in the doctor’s book — so tuck yourself in early." — Irish Proverb
"Tuck away a little kindness each day, and one day you will open your pocket to find treasure." — Ralph Waldo Emerson
"Fairy tales always end with the prince and princess tucked away happily ever after. Life is not so neat." — Angela Carter
"Tuck your dreams under your pillow at night, for they are the seeds of tomorrow." — Khalil Gibran (paraphrased from writings)
"A soldier’s courage is not the absence of fear, but the resolve to tuck it behind him and fight still." — Winston Churchill
"Tuck your tongue before you speak, and you will rarely need to bite it after." — Turkish Proverb
"You can’t tuck love away; it spills out of every pocket." — Maya Angelou
"Tuck your pain into your pocket, but never forget it is there — it will teach you compassion." — Rumi
Etymology
The word "tuck" has a somewhat uncertain origin, but it's generally believed to be related to several other words with similar sounds and meanings. It likely comes from a Germanic root, possibly related to words like "zücken" in German, which means "to pull, draw, or twitch." There's also a possible connection to the Middle Dutch word "tucken," also meaning "to pull or twitch."
Think of the action of "tucking" – you're pulling something in, folding it, or snugging it away. This pulling or drawing motion is the core idea behind the word's etymology.
The first known uses of "tuck" in English date back to the Middle English period, around the 1300s or 1400s. Initially, it seems to have primarily referred to the action of pulling or drawing something tight, particularly in the context of clothing or fabric. So, the earliest meaning was very close to its modern usage – folding, gathering, or securing fabric.
Over time, the meaning broadened slightly to include the idea of putting something away snugly or hiding it. This sense of "tucking" something away likely developed from the original idea of "tucking" fabric in. If you tuck fabric in, you're essentially putting it away neatly.
So, in simple terms, "tuck" probably started with the idea of a pulling or drawing motion, specifically related to fabric. From there, it evolved to encompass the related ideas of folding, securing, and putting something away snugly. While the exact origins are a bit fuzzy, the general idea of pulling and securing remains at the heart of the word's meaning.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Tuck
Common Phrases/Collocations:
Tuck in: (British English) To start eating heartily. "Tuck in, everyone! Dinner's ready."
Tuck someone in: To make someone comfortable in bed by arranging the blankets around them. "She tucked the children in for the night."
Tuck away: To put something away safely and securely. "He tucked away his savings for a rainy day."
Tuck something into something: To insert something snugly into something else. "She tucked the letter into the envelope."
Tuck and roll: A maneuver used in action movies, involving quickly moving from a sitting or standing position to a rolling position on the ground.
Less Common/Figurative Phrases:
Tuck something under one's belt: (Figuratively) To gain experience or achieve something that can be considered an accomplishment. "With that promotion tucked under his belt, he felt ready for new challenges." (This uses "tucked" figuratively, similar to the idea of securing something.)
Tuck away memories: To store memories carefully in one's mind. "She tucked away the happy memories of her childhood." (Figurative use)
Tuck in a secret: To keep a secret carefully. "He tucked in the secret, not daring to share it with anyone." (Figurative use)
Original Phrases (to illustrate potential usage):
"He tucked his worries into a corner of his mind, trying to forget them." (Figurative)
"The old house was tucked into the hillside, almost hidden from view." (Descriptive)
"She tucked a smile into her heart, savoring the moment." (Figurative)
Why "tuck" isn't big in idioms:
As mentioned earlier, the literal nature of "tuck" makes it less adaptable to the metaphorical leaps that idioms often require. Idioms tend to use concrete words to represent abstract ideas (e.g., "kick the bucket" for dying). "Tuck," while descriptive, doesn't easily translate to a broader, figurative meaning in the way that many other verbs do.
Synonymous Idioms (using words with similar meanings):
While "tuck" itself might not feature prominently in idioms, we can find idioms that express similar ideas of hiding, securing, or putting away:
Stash away: "He stashed away some money for his retirement." (Similar to "tuck away")
Squirrel away: "She squirreled away nuts for the winter." (Similar to "tuck away," often implying secrecy)
Keep something under wraps: "They're keeping the project under wraps until the official announcement." (Similar to the idea of hiding or concealing)
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of tuck from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
