Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1400-1500
Origin: tuck 'to stretch cloth over hooks, pull' (13-19 centuries), from Old English tucian 'to treat badly, punish, criticize angrily'

tuck

1 verb
     
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tuck1
1 [transitive always + adverb/preposition] to push something, especially the edge of a piece of cloth or paper, into or behind something so that it looks tidier or stays in place
tuck something in
Jack tucked his shirt in.
She tucked an unruly lock of hair behind her ear.
2 [transitive always + adverb/preposition] to put something into a small space, especially in order to protect, hide, carry, or hold it
tuck something behind/under/into etc something
Giles was tucking his pile of books under his arm.
He took the glasses off and tucked them in his pocket.
3 [transitive]DCC to put a tuck (=special fold) in a piece of clothing

tuck something ↔ away

phrasal verb
1

be tucked away

a) if a place is tucked away, it is in a quiet area:
The village of Eyam is tucked away behind the hills.
b) if someone or something is tucked away, they are hidden or difficult to find:
The envelope was tucked away in her jewel box.
2 informal to store something, especially money, in a safe place:
Every member of the family can now tuck away either £9 or £18 a month in one of these savings plans.
3 British English informal to eat a lot of food, usually quickly and with enjoyment

tuck in

phrasal verb
1

tuck somebody in

to make a child comfortable in bed by arranging the sheets around them
2

tuck something ↔ in

to move a part of your body inwards so that it does not stick out so much:
Stand up straight and tuck in your tummy.
3 also tuck into something informal to eat something eagerly:
The ice creams came and we tucked in.
They tucked into a hearty breakfast of eggs.

tuck somebody ↔ up

phrasal verb
1 to make someone comfortable in bed by arranging the sheets around them:
Dad tucked me up in his and Carrie's bed.
2

be tucked up in bed

informal to be lying or sitting in bed:
I ought to be tucked up in bed now.
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.
 
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