Suckers

Suckers is a plural noun with several distinct meanings in English. The most common are: a person who is easily deceived or exploited; a device or anatomical structure that creates or uses suction; and a type of confectionery. The exact sense is usually inferred from context.

As a slang term for a gullible person, 'sucker' conveys moral judgment about vulnerability to manipulation. It has various registers from neutral to pejorative and is often found in phrases like "easy sucker" or "sucker bait." The word derives from the verb suck, and its figurative use dates to early modern English.

In horticulture, a sucker is a shoot that grows from the root, trunk base, or creeping rootstock of a plant. Suckers can become independent stems and, if left unchecked, may divert resources from the main plant. In some crops, they are used for clonal propagation; in grafted fruit trees, removal or management of suckers is common practice.

Biology and anatomy use 'sucker' to describe suction organs on various animals. Cephalopods such as octopuses and squids have muscular suction cups along their tentacles for grasping prey and surfaces. Other animals, including certain fish, amphibians, and leeches, possess oral or ventral suckers used for attachment or feeding. Suckers also appear in human-made devices, such as suction cups, medical aspirators, and mechanical grips.

In North American English, a 'sucker' is a hard candy on a stick, commonly called a lollipop. Suckers are produced in many flavors and sizes.