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# tuck

«tuck» in Mova's school dictionary: **To push the loose edge of something into a place so it is…** — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples, with 2 sentences of Mova's corpora that use it.

### part of speech

verb (tuck, tucks, tucked, tucking); noun (a tuck, tucks — in sewing; tuck — old British word for snacks)

### meaning for a pupil

1) To push the loose edge of something into a place so it is neat and stays there, like a shirt into trousers. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tuck/#m1)

2) To put someone, usually a child, into bed and pull the covers snugly around them (tuck in). [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tuck/#m2)

3) To put something into a small, safe or hidden place. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tuck/#m3)

4) To pull a part of your body in close, like tucking your knees up to your chest. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tuck/#m4)

5) Tuck in: to start eating food eagerly. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tuck/#m5)

6) A tuck is a fold sewn into cloth; in old British school stories «tuck» means sweets and snacks. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tuck/#m6)

7) In old country speech, tuck can also mean to take, to look after, or to fall ill. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tuck/#m7)

### sense in the lessons

In everyday life it is about neatness and comfort: tuck in your shirt, tuck the blanket, tuck a note in a pocket. In PE and swimming, a «tuck» is a body position with knees pulled to the chest (tuck jump, tuck dive). In safety: tuck in loose clothes and laces near machines and bike chains. Phrases: tuck in, tuck up (in bed), tuck away, tucked away (hidden, out of the way), tuck shop (UK/Australia school snack shop).

### examples

- Tuck your shirt into your trousers before the photo. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tuck/#x1)
- Mum tucked me in and turned off the light. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tuck/#x2)
- She tucked the letter into her coat pocket. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tuck/#x3)
- The cottage was tucked away behind the hills. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tuck/#x4)
- Do a tuck jump: bring your knees up to your chest. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tuck/#x5)
- Tuck your laces in so they don't catch in the bike chain. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tuck/#x6)
- Dinner's ready — tuck in! [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tuck/#x7)
- The cat tucked its paws under its body to keep warm. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tuck/#x8)
- We bought crisps at the school tuck shop. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tuck/#x9)
- Is you drowndid w'en yo' ma tucks you in de bed?" [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tuck/#x10)

### note

Regular verb: tuck, tucked, tucking. «Tuck in» has two meanings: putting someone to bed, and starting to eat — the sentence shows which. «Tuck shop» is used in the UK, Australia and New Zealand, not usually in the USA. Do not confuse with «truck» (a big lorry) or «duck».

### In the corpora

- [Tucking your chin to your chest helps keep your head from hitting the ground.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/2-balance-and-falling-well/15/)
- [A tail tucked between the back legs usually means the dog is frightened.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/21-reading-a-dog/11/)

### Trees and pragmatics

[Every meaning and example of «tuck» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tuck/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.