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Tack vs Tuck - What's the difference?

tack | tuck |

In sewing terms the difference between tack and tuck

is that tack is a loose seam used to temporarily fasten pieces of cloth while tuck is a fold in fabric that has been stitched in place from end to end, as to reduce the overall dimension of the fabric piece.

As nouns the difference between tack and tuck

is that tack is a small nail with a flat head while tuck is an act of tucking; a pleat or fold.

As verbs the difference between tack and tuck

is that tack is to nail with a tack (small nail with a flat head) while tuck is to pull or gather up (an item of fabric).

tack

English

Etymology 1

From , probably from a (etyl) source.

Noun

(en noun)
  • A small nail with a flat head.
  • * 2012 , July 15. Richard Williams in Guardian Unlimited, Tour de France 2012: Carpet tacks cannot force Bradley Wiggins off track
  • A tough test for even the strongest climber, it was new to the Tour de France this year, but its debut will be remembered for the wrong reasons after one of those spectators scattered carpet tacks on the road and induced around 30 punctures among the group of riders including Bradley Wiggins, the Tour's overall leader, and his chief rivals.
  • A thumbtack.
  • (sewing) A loose seam used to temporarily fasten pieces of cloth.
  • (nautical) The lower corner on the leading edge of a sail relative to the direction of the wind.
  • (nautical) A course or heading that enables a sailing vessel to head upwind. See also reach, gybe.
  • A direction or course of action, especially a new one.
  • * 1994 , Nelson Mandela, Long Walk to Freedom , Abacus 2010, p. 637:
  • I thought that my refusing Barnard would alienate Botha, and decided that such a tack was too risky.
  • (nautical) The maneuver by which a sailing vessel turns its bow through the wind so that the wind changes from one side to the other.
  • (nautical) The distance a sailing vessel runs between these maneuvers when working to windward; a board.
  • (nautical) A rope used to hold in place the foremost lower corners of the courses when the vessel is close-hauled; also, a rope employed to pull the lower corner of a studding sail to the boom.
  • Any of the various equipment and accessories worn by horses in the course of their use as domesticated animals. Saddles, stirrups, bridles, halters, reins, bits, harnesses, martingales, and breastplates are all forms of horse tack .
  • (manufacturing, construction, chemistry) The stickiness of a compound, related to its cohesive and adhesive properties.
  • The laminate adhesive has very aggressive tack and is hard to move once in place.
  • Hardtack.
  • * 1913 , D. H. Lawrence, "Sons and Lovers":
  • "But if a woman's got nothing but her fair fame to feed on, why, it's thin tack , and a donkey would die of it!"
  • That which is attached; a supplement; an appendix.
  • * Bishop Burnet
  • Some tacks had been made to money bills in King Charles's time.
    (Macaulay)
  • (legal, Scotland) A contract by which the use of a thing is set, or let, for hire; a lease.
  • (Burrill)
  • (obsolete) Confidence; reliance.
  • (Halliwell)
    Synonyms
    * (nautical maneuver) coming about
    Hyponyms
    * (nail-like object for affixing thin things) thumbtack
    Derived terms
    * Blu-Tack * hardtack * thumbtack

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To nail with a tack (small nail with a flat head).
  • To sew/stich with a tack (loose seam used to temporarily fasten pieces of cloth).
  • (nautical) To maneuver a sailing vessel so that its bow turns through the wind, i.e. the wind changes from one side of the vessel to the other.
  • To add something as an extra item.
  • to tack (something) onto (something)
  • Often paired with "up", to place the tack on a horse.
  • Synonyms
    * to change tack
    Antonyms
    * to wear

    See also

    * * Blu-Tack

    Etymology 2

    From an old or dialectal form of (etyl) tache. See techy.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A stain; a tache.
  • (obsolete) A peculiar flavour or taint.
  • (Drayton)
    ----

    tuck

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) . More at touch.

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (lb) To pull or gather up (an item of fabric).
  • (lb) To push into a snug position; to place somewhere safe or somewhat hidden.
  • :
  • *
  • *:It was flood-tide along Fifth Avenue; motor, brougham, and victoria swept by on the glittering current; pretty women glanced out from limousine and tonneau; young men of his own type, silk-hatted, frock-coated, the crooks of their walking sticks tucked up under their left arms, passed on the Park side.
  • (lb) To fit neatly.
  • :
  • To curl into a ball; to fold up and hold one's legs.
  • :
  • To sew folds; to make a tuck or tucks in.
  • :
  • To full, as cloth.
  • To conceal one’s genitals, as with a gaff or by fastening them down with adhesive tape.
  • :
  • (lb) To keep the thumb in position while moving the rest of the hand over it to continue playing keys that are outside the thumb.
  • Antonyms
    * untuck
    Derived terms
    * tuck away * tuck in * tuck into * nip and tuck

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • An act of tucking ; a pleat or fold.
  • (sewing) A fold in fabric that has been stitched in place from end to end, as to reduce the overall dimension of the fabric piece.
  • A curled position.
  • (medicine, surgery) A plastic surgery technique to remove excess skin.
  • (music, piano, when playing scales on piano keys) The act of keeping the thumb in position while moving the rest of the hand over it to continue playing keys that are outside the thumb.
  • (diving) A curled position, with the shins held towards the body.
  • Etymology 2

    From (etyl)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (archaic) A rapier, a sword.
  • * 1663 , (Hudibras) , by (Samuel Butler), part 1,
  • [...] with force he labour'd / To free's blade from retentive scabbard; / And after many a painful pluck, / From rusty durance he bail'd tuck [...]
    (Shakespeare)
  • * Sir Walter Scott
  • He wore large hose, and a tuck , as it was then called, or rapier, of tremendous length.

    Etymology 3

    Compare tocsin.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • The beat of a drum.
  • Etymology 4

    (etyl) .

    Noun

    (-)
  • Food, especially snack food.
  • Derived terms
    * tuck shop * tuck box * tuck in ----