tucked

Tucked is the past participle and adjective form of the verb tuck. It describes something that has been folded, inserted, or placed into a small or concealed space. The term can also indicate that an object or person is held in a compact, secured position. In everyday language, a garment or linen is described as tucked when it has been drawn into place and kept there, and a topic or item can be said to be tucked away when it is stored out of sight.

Etymology and usage notes about tuck are generally tied to the notion of folding or placing into a small space. The precise historical origins of the word are complex, but the core sense—to fold, to press into a space, or to conceal—has long been part of English usage. As a result, tucked appears in a range of contexts beyond clothing and movement, including phrases like tucked away, meaning hidden or stored, and tucked in, which can describe someone being covered by a blanket or ready for sleep.

In clothing and textiles, tucks are narrow folds in fabric created by stitching along their base. They can be decorative features on dresses, blouses, or lingerie, or functional elements that shape or control fullness. A shirt that is neatly tucked in at the waist or pants may also be described as neatly tucked.

In physical movement, a tuck or tucked position refers to the body drawing its limbs in toward the torso, often with the hips and knees bent. This posture is used in activities such as gymnastics, diving, and some forms of skating and jumping to reduce rotational inertia or to achieve a compact form.

See also: tuck (disambiguation)