Definition

1. Verb:

   • To draw or gather together into small folds or wrinkles.
   • To become wrinkled or drawn together, often forming an irregular surface.

2. Noun:

   • An irregular fold or wrinkle, especially one formed in fabric or skin by drawing the material together.

Usage

• As a verb, "pucker" typically describes the action of something smooth becoming wrinkled or gathered. It is often used with prepositions like "up."
• As a noun, "pucker" refers to the resulting wrinkle or fold itself.

Examples

• Verb:
  • The seam began to pucker because the thread tension was too tight.
  • He puckered his brow in concentration.
  • The child's face puckered just before she started to cry.
• Noun:
  • There was a small pucker in the silk fabric where it was stitched.
  • She smoothed out the puckers in the tablecloth.

Advanced Usage

• "to pucker up": To contract the lips into a rounded shape, typically in preparation for a kiss or to express emotion.
  • He puckered up and gave his grandmother a kiss on the cheek.

Variants and Related Words

• Puckered (adj): Having small folds or wrinkles.
  • The puckered skin around the old scar was smooth to the touch.
• Puckery (adj): Causing a puckering sensation, often used to describe a sour taste.
  • The unripe persimmon had a puckery, astringent flavor.

Synonyms

• Verb: Wrinkle, crumple, gather, contract, crease.
• Noun: Wrinkle, fold, crease, rumple, gather.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Pucker up: (As defined in Advanced Usage) To purse one's lips.
  • When she tasted the lemon, she immediately puckered up.

Related Idioms

• In a pucker (archaic/informal): In a state of agitation or worry.
  • There's no need to get in a pucker over a small mistake.

Noun

1. an irregular fold in an otherwise even surface (as in cloth)

Verb

1. become wrinkled or drawn together
   • her lips puckered
2. draw together into folds or puckers
3. to gather something into small wrinkles or folds
   • She puckered her lips