tuck

The word “tuck” means to push, fold, or fit the loose edge of something neatly into place. In plain terms, to fold or push something neatly into place — most often clothing or bedding.

“Tuck” is pronounced tuhk (/tʌk/ in IPA).

Here is “tuck” used in a sentence: “She tucked the sheet under the mattress and smoothed it flat.”

Depending on how it is used, “tuck” can be a verb and a noun.

The word “tuck” comes from Old English. From Old English tūcian ("to torment, harass"), which softened over time into the modern sense of pulling or folding cloth neatly into place.

“Tuck” is an uncommon word in modern English.

“Tuck” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to push, fold, or fit the loose edge of something neatly into place.

Tuck specifically means to push, fold, or fit the loose edge of something neatly into place, such as tucking a shirt into trousers, while fold more generally describes bending something over on itself without necessarily fitting it into a confined space. Tuck often implies securing or hiding an edge, whereas fold is a broader, more neutral action.

In sewing, a tuck is a fold stitched into fabric to take in its size or add shape. Tucks are commonly used to adjust fit or create decorative detail on clothing.

In British, informal, and somewhat dated usage, tuck refers to snack food, especially sweets bought by schoolchildren, as in a tuck shop. This sense is distinct from the verb meaning to fold something into place.