tuck
Word family
- tuckedadjectiveB2
- tuckingadjectiveC1
Synonym discussion
Sense: verb/1
All five verbs involve putting something into a position, but with different actions and purposes. "Tuck" specifically means pushing a loose edge or end into a confined space, like a shirt into trousers, and implies neatness or security. "Fold" means bending one part of something over another, often creating a crease — you fold a letter or a piece of paper, but you do not fold it into a gap. "Insert" is more formal and implies putting something into a slot, opening, or between two surfaces, as in inserting a key into a lock. "Push" is the most general and forceful — you push a drawer closed or push a box across a table, but it lacks the precision of tucking. "Slip" suggests a smooth, gentle, often secretive movement, like slipping a note under a door. When you want to say someone made their shirt look neat, use "tuck" (She tucked her shirt in). When you are creating a neat edge on paper, use "fold" (He folded the letter in half).
Common collocations
Etymology
The word 'tuck' comes from Old English 'tūcian', meaning 'to torment or punish', which seems unrelated to the modern meaning. In Middle English, the sense shifted to 'to pull, pluck, or draw together,' possibly influenced by related words in Old High German. By the 14th century, it had taken on the meaning of folding or gathering fabric. The noun sense of a stitched fold in cloth dates from the 15th century. The 'cosmetic surgery' meaning (tummy tuck) emerged in the mid-20th century, and the British informal sense of 'food' (especially sweets) comes from a 19th-century schoolboy slang usage of 'tuck' meaning a hearty meal.