Tuck vs. Stick — What's the Difference?

To thrust or fold the edge of so as to secure or confine

A branch or stem that has fallen or been cut from a tree or shrub.

To wrap or cover snugly, as by tucking a blanket

A piece of wood, such as a tree branch, that is used for fuel, cut for lumber, or shaped for a specific purpose.

To make one or more folds in

A wand, staff, baton, or rod.

To put in an out-of-the-way, snug place

(Sports) A long thin implement with a blade or net on the end used to propel and control a puck or ball in hockey or lacrosse.

To store in a safe spot; save

A walking stick; a cane.

To draw in; contract

Something that is long and thin

(Sports) To bring (a body part) into a tuck position.

(Slang) A marijuana cigarette.

To make tucks.

The control device of an aircraft that operates the elevators and ailerons.

The act of tucking.

(Informal) A stick shift.

A flattened pleat or fold, especially a very narrow one stitched in place.

(Nautical) A mast or a part of a mast.

(Nautical) The part of a ship's hull under the stern where the ends of the bottom planks come together.

A group of bombs released to fall across an enemy target in a straight row.

A body position used in some sports, such as diving, in which the knees are bent and the thighs are drawn close to the chest, with the hands often clasped around the shins.

(Slang) A group of paratroopers exiting an aircraft in succession.

A position in skiing in which the skier squats, often while holding the poles parallel to the ground and under the arms.

A timber tree.

(Informal) A cosmetic surgical procedure in which skin or fat is removed, sometimes accompanied by muscle tightening, to create a slimmer or more youthful appearance.

(Informal) A piece of furniture.

Chiefly British Food, especially sweets and pastry.

A poke, thrust, or stab with a stick or similar object

A beat or tap, especially on a drum.

A threatened penalty

A slender sword; a rapier.

The condition or power of adhering

Energy; vigor.

A remote area; backwoods

(transitive) To pull or gather up (an item of fabric).

A city or town regarded as dull or unsophisticated.

(transitive) To push into a snug position; to place somewhere safe or somewhat hidden.

(Informal) A person regarded as stiff, boring, or spiritless.

To eat; to consume.

(Obsolete) A difficulty or obstacle; a delay.

(ergative) To fit neatly.

To pierce, puncture, or penetrate with a pointed instrument

To curl into a ball; to fold up and hold one's legs.

To kill by piercing

To sew folds; to make a tuck or tucks in.

To thrust or push (a pointed instrument) into or through another object

To full, as cloth.

To jab or poke (a pointed or narrow instrument) into or against

To conceal one’s penis and testicles, as with a gaff or by fastening them down with adhesive tape.

To place or position by pushing or thrusting

(when playing scales on piano keys) To keep the thumb in position while moving the rest of the hand over it to continue playing keys that are outside the thumb.

To fix, impale, or transfix on a pointed object

(aviation) Mach tuck

To cover or decorate with objects piercing the surface

An act of tucking; a pleat or fold.

To fasten into place by forcing an end or point into something

(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.

To fasten or attach with pins, nails, or similar devices

A curled position.

To fasten or attach with an adhesive material, such as glue or tape.

A plastic surgery technique to remove excess skin.

(Sports) To execute (a landing or dismount) in gymnastics so that the feet do not move after they hit the ground.

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.

To detain or delay

(diving) A curled position, with the shins held towards the body.

(Informal) To confuse, baffle, or puzzle

(nautical) The afterpart of a ship, immediately under the stern or counter, where the ends of the bottom planks are collected and terminate by the tuck-rail.

Past tense and past participle sticked (stĭkt) To prop (a plant) with sticks or brush on which to grow.

(archaic) A rapier, a sword.

Past tense and past participle sticked Printing To set (type) in a composing stick.

The beat of a drum.

To cover or smear with something sticky.

Food, especially snack food.

(Informal) To put blame or responsibility on; burden

A long, narrow sword; a rapier.

(Slang) To defraud or cheat

The beat of a drum.

To be or become fixed or embedded in place by having the point thrust in

A horizontal sewed fold, such as is made in a garment, to shorten it; a plait.

To become or remain attached or in close association; cling

A small net used for taking fish from a larger one; - called also tuck-net.

To remain firm, determined, or resolute

A pull; a lugging.

To remain loyal or faithful

The part of a vessel where the ends of the bottom planks meet under the stern.

To persist or endure

Food; pastry; sweetmeats.

To scruple or hesitate

To draw up; to shorten; to fold under; to press into a narrower compass; as, to tuck the bedclothes in; to tuck up one's sleeves.

To become fixed, blocked, checked, or obstructed

To make a tuck or tucks in; as, to tuck a dress.

To project or protrude

To inclose; to put within; to press into a close place; as, to tuck a child into a bed; to tuck a book under one's arm, or into a pocket.

(Sports) To throw a jab in boxing.

To full, as cloth.

An elongated piece of wood or similar material, typically put to some use, for example as a wand or baton.

To contract; to draw together.

A small, thin branch from a tree or bush; a twig; a branch.

Eatables (especially sweets)

A relatively long, thin piece of wood, of any size.

(sports) a bodily position adopted in some sports (such as diving or skiing) in which the knees are bent and the thighs are drawn close to the chest

(US) A timber board, especially a two by four (inches).

A narrow flattened pleat or fold that is stitched in place

A cane or walking stick (usually wooden, metal or plastic) to aid in walking.

A straight sword with a narrow blade and two edges

A cudgel or truncheon (usually of wood, metal or plastic), especially one carried by police or guards.

Fit snugly into;

(carpentry) The vertical member of a cope-and-stick joint.

Make a tuck or several folds in;

(nautical) A mast or part of a mast of a ship; also, a yard.

Draw fabric together and sew it tightly

(figuratively) A piece (of furniture, especially if wooden).

Any roughly cylindrical (or rectangular) unit of a substance.

A small rectangular block, with a length several times its width, which contains by volume one half of a cup of shortening (butter, margarine or lard).

A standard rectangular strip of chewing gum.

(slang) A cigarette usually a tobacco cigarette, less often a marijuana cigarette.

Material or objects attached to a stick or the like.

A bunch of something wrapped around or attached to a stick.

(archaic) A scroll that is rolled around (mounted on, attached to) a stick.

(military) The structure to which a set of bombs in a bomber aircraft are attached and which drops the bombs when it is released. The bombs themselves and, by extension, any load of similar items dropped in quick succession such as paratroopers or containers.

A tool, control, or instrument shaped somewhat like a stick.

A manual transmission, a vehicle equipped with a manual transmission, so called because of the stick-like, i.e. twig-like, control (the gear shift) with which the driver of such a vehicle controls its transmission.

(aviation) The control column of an aircraft; a joystick. By convention, a wheel-like control mechanism with a handgrip on opposite sides, similar to the steering wheel of an automobile, can also be called the "stick", although "yoke" or "control wheel" is more commonly seen.

Use of the stick to control the aircraft.

(computing) A memory stick.

(slang) A handgun.

A composing stick, the tool used by compositors to assemble lines of type.

The clarinet.

(sports) A stick-like item:

A long thin implement used to control a ball or puck in sports like hockey, polo, and lacrosse.

(horse racing) The short whip carried by a jockey.

(boardsports) A board as used in board sports, such as a surfboard, snowboard, or skateboard.

(golf) The pole bearing a small flag that marks the hole.

The cue used in billiards, pool, snooker, etc.

Ability; specifically:

(golf) The long-range driving ability of a golf club.

(baseball) The potential hitting power of a specific bat.

(baseball) General hitting ability.

(hockey) The potential accuracy of a hockey stick, implicating also the player using it.

A person or group of people. (Perhaps, in some senses, because people are, broadly speaking, tall and thin, like pieces of wood.)

A thin or wiry person; particularly a flat-chested woman.

(magic) An assistant planted in the audience.

(gambling) A shill or house player.

A stiff, stupidly obstinate person.

A fighter pilot.

A small group of (infantry) soldiers.

Encouragement or punishment, or (resulting) vigour or other improved behavior.

A negative stimulus or a punishment. (This sense derives from the metaphor of using a stick, a long piece of wood, to poke or beat a beast of burden to compel it to move forward. Compare carrot.)

Corporal punishment; beatings.

(slang) Vigor; spirit; effort, energy, intensity.

(slang) Vigorous driving of a car; gas.

A measure.

(obsolete) An English Imperial unit of length equal to 2 inches.

A quantity of eels, usually 25.

(motor racing) The traction of tires on the road surface.

(fishing) The amount of fishing line resting on the water surface before a cast; line stick.

A thrust with a pointed instrument; a stab.

Criticism or ridicule.

(carpentry) To cut a piece of wood to be the stick member of a cope-and-stick joint.

To compose; to set, or arrange, in a composing stick.

(transitive) To furnish or set with sticks.

(intransitive) To become or remain attached; to adhere.

(intransitive) To jam; to stop moving.

(transitive) To tolerate, to endure, to stick with.

(intransitive) To persist.

(intransitive) Of snow, to remain frozen on landing.

(intransitive) To remain loyal; to remain firm.

To hesitate, to be reluctant; to refuse (in negative phrases).

To be puzzled (at something), have difficulty understanding.

To cause difficulties, scruples, or hesitation.

(transitive) To attach with glue or as if by gluing.

(transitive) To place, set down (quickly or carelessly).

(transitive) To press (something with a sharp point) into something else.

To stab.

(transitive) To fix on a pointed instrument; to impale.

To adorn or deck with things fastened on as by piercing.

To perform (a landing) perfectly.

To propagate plants by cuttings.

To run or plane (mouldings) in a machine, in contradistinction to working them by hand. Such mouldings are said to be stuck.

To bring to a halt; to stymie; to puzzle.

To impose upon; to compel to pay; sometimes, to cheat.

To have sexual intercourse with.

To stand pat: to cease taking any more cards and finalize one's hand.

(informal) Likely to stick; sticking, sticky.

A small shoot, or branch, separated, as by a cutting, from a tree or shrub; also, any stem or branch of a tree, of any size, cut for fuel or timber.

Any long and comparatively slender piece of wood, whether in natural form or shaped with tools; a rod; a wand; a staff; as, the stick of a rocket; a walking stick.

Anything shaped like a stick; as, a stick of wax.

A derogatory expression for a person; one who is inert or stupid; as, an odd stick; a poor stick.

A composing stick. See under Composing. It is usually a frame of metal, but for posters, handbills, etc., one made of wood is used.

A thrust with a pointed instrument; a stab.

To penetrate with a pointed instrument; to pierce; to stab; hence, to kill by piercing; as, to stick a beast.

To cause to penetrate; to push, thrust, or drive, so as to pierce; as, to stick a needle into one's finger.

To fasten, attach, or cause to remain, by thrusting in; hence, also, to adorn or deck with things fastened on as by piercing; as, to stick a pin on the sleeve.

To set; to fix in; as, to stick card teeth.

To set with something pointed; as, to stick cards.

To fix on a pointed instrument; to impale; as, to stick an apple on a fork.

To attach by causing to adhere to the surface; as, to stick on a plaster; to stick a stamp on an envelope; also, to attach in any manner.

To compose; to set, or arrange, in a composing stick; as, to stick type.

To run or plane (moldings) in a machine, in contradistinction to working them by hand. Such moldings are said to be stuck.

To cause to stick; to bring to a stand; to pose; to puzzle; as, to stick one with a hard problem.

To impose upon; to compel to pay; sometimes, to cheat.

To adhere; as, glue sticks to the fingers; paste sticks to the wall.

To remain where placed; to be fixed; to hold fast to any position so as to be moved with difficulty; to cling; to abide; to cleave; to be united closely.

To be prevented from going farther; to stop by reason of some obstacle; to be stayed.

To be embarrassed or puzzled; to hesitate; to be deterred, as by scruples; to scruple; - often with at.

To cause difficulties, scruples, or hesitation.

Implement consisting of a length of wood;

A small thin branch of a tree

A lever used by a pilot to control the ailerons and elevators of an airplane

Informal terms of the leg;

Marijuana leaves rolled into a cigarette for smoking

Threat of a penalty;

Fix, force, or implant;

Stay put (in a certain place);

Cause to protrude or as if to protrude;

Stick to firmly;

Be or become fixed;

Endure;

Be a devoted follower or supporter;

Be loyal to;

Cover and decorate with objects that pierce the surface;

Fasten with an adhesive material like glue;

Fasten with or as with pins or nails;

Fasten into place by fixing an end or point into something;

Pierce with a thrust using a pointed instrument;

Pierce or penetrate or puncture with something pointed;

Come or be in close contact with; stick or hold together and resist separation;

Saddle with something disagreeable or disadvantageous;

Be a mystery or bewildering to;