English Reference
verb · noun

tucker

v. · n.
US /ˈtəkɝ/ UK /tˈʌkɐ/ tuck·er UK spelling tuckered, tuckering, tuckers

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate InformalAmerican English

    v.to make someone or something very tired.

    v.to exhaust or weary a person or animal. Usually used in the passive voice or as a past participle.

    Simple

    The long hike up the mountain really tuckered the kids out.

    In context

    By the time we reached the summit, the steep incline and humid air had completely tuckered out even the most experienced climbers in our group.

    Usage

    Almost always used with the particle 'out'.

    Pitfall
    The long walk tuckered me. The long walk tuckered me out.

    In modern English, this verb almost always requires the particle 'out'.

  2. 02 C1 Advanced InformalDialect

    n.a casual word for food.

    n.food or rations. This sense is uncountable and specific to certain regional dialects.

    Simple

    After a long day of working on the farm, we were ready for some good tucker.

    In context

    The station hands gathered around the campfire, grateful for the hot tucker prepared after a grueling day of mustering cattle across the outback.

    Teacher's tip

    This sense is highly characteristic of Australian and New Zealand English; using it elsewhere may sound out of place or like an imitation.

  3. 03 C2 Proficiency ArchaicLiterary

    n.a piece of lace or cloth that women used to wear around the neck of a dress.

    n.a piece of lace or linen worn by women in the 17th to 19th centuries to cover the neck and shoulders.

    Simple

    The lady in the old painting wore a delicate lace tucker over her silk gown.

    In context

    The portrait depicts a merchant's wife in modest attire, her dark bodice contrasted by a finely embroidered white tucker.

    Usage

    Usually encountered in historical novels or descriptions of period costumes.

    collarfrill
This entry
Level C2 · Proficiency
Frequency Frequent
Updated