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noun

Tux

tuhks

Tux (noun) means informal shortening of tuxedo, a formal dinner jacket suit. Example: “He rented a tux for the wedding.”

noun
1
Informal shortening of tuxedo, a formal dinner jacket suit.
"He rented a tux for the wedding."
name
1
The penguin mascot of the Linux operating system.
"Tux appears in the boot screen of many Linux distributions."

How to use Tux

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishShort for tuxedo (a formal suit); also the name of the Linux penguin mascot.

When to use it

As "dinner suit", it is informal and mainly American — British English favours "dinner jacket" or "black tie".

Common pairings
rent a tux wear a tux
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Test yourself on “Tux” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

He rented a _____ for the wedding.

Etymology

As clothing, a clipped form of "tuxedo". As the Linux mascot, coined from "Torvalds Unix" (after Linux creator Linus Torvalds), with a nod to the tuxedo-like markings of penguins.

Frequently asked questions

What does “Tux” mean?

The word “Tux” means informal shortening of tuxedo, a formal dinner jacket suit. In plain terms, short for tuxedo (a formal suit); also the name of the Linux penguin mascot.

How do you pronounce “Tux”?

“Tux” is pronounced tuhks (/tʌks/ in IPA).

How do you use “Tux” in a sentence?

Here is “Tux” used in a sentence: “He rented a tux for the wedding.”

What part of speech is “Tux”?

Depending on how it is used, “Tux” can be a noun and a name.

How many meanings does “Tux” have?

“Tux” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: informal shortening of tuxedo, a formal dinner jacket suit.

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