Tuck vs. Tack — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on January 11, 2024
Tuck refers to folding or inserting something to secure it, often in tailoring or bedding. Tack is either a small nail with a broad head or a method to temporarily secure something, often in sewing or sailing.
Difference Between Tuck and Tack
Table of Contents
ADVERTISEMENT
Key Differences
Tuck involves folding or fitting something neatly, such as fabric or a bedsheet, to create a smooth appearance. Tack, however, refers to attaching or fastening items, typically using small nails or stitches.
In sewing, a tuck is a stitched fold in the fabric, often used for design or fitting purposes. In contrast, a tack in sewing is a temporary stitch used to hold pieces together before final sewing.
Tuck is also used in culinary terms, like 'tucking into a meal,' implying eating with enthusiasm. Tack, in a different context, can refer to changing direction while sailing, involving the boat's movement.
In gymnastics or diving, a tuck position is where the knees are brought to the chest. Tack, in equestrian terms, refers to the equipment used on a horse, like saddles and bridles.
Tuck can also imply securing something out of sight, like 'tucking away savings.' Tack, alternatively, can mean a strategy or approach in handling a situation, as in 'taking a different tack.'
ADVERTISEMENT
Comparison Chart
Definition
Folding or inserting for neatness or security
A small nail or temporary fastening method
Usage in Sewing
A stitched fold in fabric
A temporary stitch to hold pieces together
Contextual Meaning
Eating heartily or securing out of sight
Direction in sailing or a strategy
Associated Fields
Tailoring, bedding, gymnastics
Carpentry, sewing, equestrian, sailing
Physical Form
A position or action
A physical object or action
Compare with Definitions
Tuck
A fold or gather in fabric to adjust fit or design.
She made a tuck in the dress to improve its fit.
Tack
A small, broad-headed nail.
He used a tack to pin the note on the board.
Tuck
To place or fit something snugly into a space.
He tucked the letter into the book as a bookmark.
Tack
A temporary stitch in sewing.
She put a tack in the fabric to hold it before sewing.
Tuck
A body position in diving or gymnastics, knees to chest.
The diver executed a perfect tuck during her dive.
Tack
To change direction in sailing.
The sailor decided to tack to catch the wind better.
Tuck
To eat food with enthusiasm.
They tucked into the Thanksgiving feast hungrily.
Tack
The equipment used on a horse, like saddles.
She checked the horse's tack before the ride.
Tuck
Concealing something out of sight.
She tucked away her savings in a secret compartment.
Tack
A chosen course of action or strategy.
The team took a different tack to solve the problem.
Tuck
To thrust or fold the edge of so as to secure or confine
He tucked his shirt into his pants. I tucked the blanket under the mattress.
Tack
A short, light nail with a sharp point and a flat head.
Tuck
To wrap or cover snugly, as by tucking a blanket
Tucked the baby in bed.
Tack
A rope for holding down the weather clew of a course.
Tuck
To make one or more folds in
Tucked the pleats before sewing the hem.
Tack
A rope for hauling the outer lower corner of a studdingsail to the boom.
Tuck
To put in an out-of-the-way, snug place
A cabin that was tucked among the pines.
Tack
The part of a sail, such as the weather clew of a course, to which this rope is fastened.
Tuck
To store in a safe spot; save
Tuck away a bit of lace.
Tuck away millions.
Tack
The lower forward corner of a fore-and-aft sail.
Tuck
To draw in; contract
He tucked his chin into his chest.
Tack
The position of a vessel relative to the trim of its sails.
Tuck
(Sports) To bring (a body part) into a tuck position.
Tack
The act of changing from one position or direction to another.
Tuck
To make tucks.
Tack
The distance or leg sailed between changes of position or direction.
Tuck
The act of tucking.
Tack
An approach to accomplishing a goal or a method of dealing with a problem.
Tuck
A flattened pleat or fold, especially a very narrow one stitched in place.
Tack
A large, loose stitch made as a temporary binding or as a marker.
Tuck
(Nautical) The part of a ship's hull under the stern where the ends of the bottom planks come together.
Tack
Stickiness, as that of a newly painted surface.
Tuck
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.
Tack
Food, especially coarse or inferior foodstuffs.
Tuck
A position in skiing in which the skier squats, often while holding the poles parallel to the ground and under the arms.
Tack
The harness for a horse, including the bridle and saddle.
Tuck
(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.
Tack
To fasten or attach with a tack or tacks
Tacked the carpet down.
Tuck
Chiefly British Food, especially sweets and pastry.
Tack
To fasten or mark (cloth or a seam, for example) with a loose basting stitch.
Tuck
A beat or tap, especially on a drum.
Tack
To put together loosely and arbitrarily
Tacked some stories together in an attempt to write a novel.
Tuck
A slender sword; a rapier.
Tack
To add as an extra item; append
Tacked two dollars onto the bill.
Tuck
Energy; vigor.
Tack
(Nautical) To bring (a vessel) into the wind in order to change course or direction.
Tuck
(transitive) To pull or gather up (an item of fabric).
Tack
To change the direction of a sailing vessel, especially by turning the bow into and past the direction of the wind
Stand by to tack.
Tuck
(transitive) To push into a snug position; to place somewhere safe or somewhat hidden.
Tuck in your shirt.
I tucked in the sheet.
He tucked the $10 bill into his shirt pocket.
Tack
To sail a zigzag course upwind by repeatedly executing such a maneuver.
Tuck
To eat; to consume.
Tack
To change tack
The ship tacked to starboard.
Tuck
(ergative) To fit neatly.
The sofa tucks nicely into that corner.
Kenwood House is tucked into a corner of Hampstead Heath.
Tack
To change one's course of action.
Tuck
To curl into a ball; to fold up and hold one's legs.
The diver tucked, flipped, and opened up at the last moment.
Tack
A small nail with a flat head.
Tuck
To sew folds; to make a tuck or tucks in.
To tuck a dress
Tack
A thumbtack.
Tuck
To full, as cloth.
Tack
(sewing) A loose seam used to temporarily fasten pieces of cloth.
Tuck
To conceal one’s penis and testicles, as with a gaff or by fastening them down with adhesive tape.
Honey, have you tucked today? We don’t wanna see anything nasty down there.
Tack
(nautical) The lower corner on the leading edge of a sail relative to the direction of the wind.
Tuck
(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.
Tack
(nautical) A course or heading that enables a sailing vessel to head upwind.
Tuck
(aviation) Mach tuck
Never take a first-generation Learjet past Mach 0.82; it'll tuck hard nose-down and you won't be able to pull out from the dive.
Tack
(figurative) A direction or course of action, especially a new one.
Tuck
An act of tucking; a pleat or fold.
Tack
(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.
Tuck
(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.
Tack
(nautical) The distance a sailing vessel runs between these maneuvers when working to windward; a board.
Tuck
A curled position.
Tack
(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.
Tuck
A plastic surgery technique to remove excess skin.
Tummy tuck
Tack
Any of the various equipment and accessories worn by horses in the course of their use as domesticated animals.
Tuck
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.
Tack
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.
Tuck
(diving) A curled position, with the shins held towards the body.
Tack
Food generally; fare, especially of the bread kind.
Soft tack
Tuck
(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.
Tack
That which is attached; a supplement; an appendix.
Tuck
(archaic) A rapier, a sword.
Tack
(obsolete) Confidence; reliance.
Tuck
The beat of a drum.
Tack
A stain; a tache.
Tuck
Food, especially snack food.
Tack
(obsolete) A peculiar flavour or taint.
A musty tack
Tuck
A long, narrow sword; a rapier.
He wore large hose, and a tuck, as it was then called, or rapier, of tremendous length.
Tack
(colloquial) That which is tacky; something cheap and gaudy.
Tuck
The beat of a drum.
Tack
A contract by which the use of a thing is set, or let, for hire; a lease.
Tuck
A horizontal sewed fold, such as is made in a garment, to shorten it; a plait.
Tack
To nail with a tack small nail with a flat head.
Tuck
A small net used for taking fish from a larger one; - called also tuck-net.
Tack
To sew/stitch with a tack loose seam used to temporarily fasten pieces of cloth.
Tuck
A pull; a lugging.
Tack
(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.
Tuck
The part of a vessel where the ends of the bottom planks meet under the stern.
Tack
To add something as an extra item.
To tack (something) onto (something)
Tuck
Food; pastry; sweetmeats.
Tack
To place the tack on a horse; often paired with "up".
Tuck
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.
Tack
A stain; a tache.
Tuck
To make a tuck or tucks in; as, to tuck a dress.
Tack
A peculiar flavor or taint; as, a musty tack.
Tuck
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.
Tack
A small, short, sharp-pointed nail, usually having a broad, flat head.
Tuck
To full, as cloth.
Tack
A rope used to hold in place the foremost lower corners of the courses when the vessel is closehauled (see Illust. of Ship); also, a rope employed to pull the lower corner of a studding sail to the boom.
Tuck
To contract; to draw together.
Tack
A contract by which the use of a thing is set, or let, for hire; a lease.
Tuck
Eatables (especially sweets)
Tack
Confidence; reliance.
Tuck
(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
Tack
To fasten or attach.
And tacks the center to the sphere.
Tuck
A narrow flattened pleat or fold that is stitched in place
Tack
Especially, to attach or secure in a slight or hasty manner, as by stitching or nailing; as, to tack together the sheets of a book; to tack one piece of cloth to another; to tack on a board or shingle; to tack one piece of metal to another by drops of solder.
Tuck
A straight sword with a narrow blade and two edges
Tack
In parliamentary usage, to add (a supplement) to a bill; to append; - often with on or to; as, to tack on a non-germane appropriation to a bill.
Tuck
Fit snugly into;
Insert your ticket into the slot
Tuck your shirtail in
Tack
To change the direction of (a vessel) when sailing closehauled, by putting the helm alee and shifting the tacks and sails so that she will proceed to windward nearly at right angles to her former course.
Tuck
Make a tuck or several folds in;
Tuck the fabric
Tuck in the sheet
Tack
The heading or position of a vessel relative to the trim of its sails
Tuck
Draw fabric together and sew it tightly
Tack
A short nail with a sharp point and a large head
Tack
Gear for a horse
Tack
(nautical) a line (rope or chain) that regulates the angle at which a sail is set in relation to the wind
Tack
(nautical) the act of changing tack
Tack
Sailing a zigzag course
Tack
Fasten with tacks;
Tack the notice on the board
Tack
Turn into the wind;
The sailors decided to tack the boat
The boat tacked
Tack
Make by putting pieces together;
She pieced a quilt
He tacked together some verses
Tack
Sew together loosely, with large stitches;
Baste a hem
Tack
Fix to; attach;
Append a charm to the necklace
Tack
Reverse (a direction, attitude, or course of action)
Common Curiosities
Is tuck used in garment alterations?
Yes, tucks are used in tailoring to adjust the fit of a garment.
Can tuck refer to a body position?
Yes, in gymnastics or diving, a tuck is a position with knees bent to the chest.
How is tack used in sailing?
In sailing, to tack means to change direction by turning the boat's bow through the wind.
What does 'tuck in' mean?
'Tuck in' means to eat food eagerly or heartily.
Can tuck mean to conceal something?
Yes, tuck can mean to hide or store something out of sight.
What does a tack nail look like?
A tack nail is small with a broad, flat head.
Is tuck used in interior design?
Yes, tucking refers to arranging or fitting items neatly in interior design.
What is a tack in sewing?
In sewing, a tack is a temporary, loose stitch.
How do you use a tuck in bedding?
Tucking in bedding involves neatly folding and securing the edges under the mattress.
What does 'changing tack' mean?
It means to try a different approach or strategy.
Can tack be used in upholstery?
Yes, tacks are used in upholstery to fasten fabric to furniture.
Is tucking important in formal table settings?
Yes, tucking napkins and tablecloths is important for a neat presentation.
Can tack mean a method in diplomacy?
Yes, in diplomacy, a tack can refer to a specific approach or policy direction.
Can tack refer to horse equipment?
Yes, tack refers to horse riding equipment like saddles and bridles.
Does tuck have culinary meanings?
Yes, 'tucking into a meal' means eating with great enjoyment.
Share Your Discovery
Previous Comparison
Divisor vs. Dividend
Next Comparison
Feces vs. StoolAuthor Spotlight
Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
