puckering

Puckering is the action or result of drawing a surface or part of the body into a small, rounded fold or wrinkle. The term is used across disciplines to describe the formation of tight, curved shapes or creases that arise from tension, contraction, moisture changes, or mechanical forces.

In anatomy and everyday use, puckering often refers to pursing the lips into a tight, rounded shape, as when kissing, whistling, or signaling. This involves the orbicularis oris muscle and can be a voluntary gesture or a reflexive response to taste, sensation, or emotion.

In textiles and fabric processing, puckering describes unwanted wrinkles or ridges on a fabric surface. It can occur during sewing, washing, or dyeing when tensions are imbalanced between threads, or when moisture and heat cause differential shrinkage. Puckering can affect garment appearance and fit, and remedies include adjusting machine tension, using stabilizers, selecting appropriate needle sizes, or altering finishing processes.

In materials science, puckering (or wrinkling) refers to the buckling of thin sheets or membranes under compressive stress, producing wave-like folds. This phenomenon is studied to understand mechanical stability in foils, films, and microfabricated structures, and can be controlled or exploited in design.

Puckering can also describe skin or tissue puckering in medical contexts, such as scar formation or localized wrinkling due to aging, hydration changes, or tissue remodeling. The term's exact meaning is guided by the surrounding discipline.