pucker
/'pʌkə/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Verb:
- To draw or gather together into small folds or wrinkles.
- To become wrinkled or drawn together, often forming an irregular surface.
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
- an irregular fold in an otherwise even surface (as in cloth)
Verb
- become wrinkled or drawn together
- her lips puckered
- draw together into folds or puckers
- to gather something into small wrinkles or folds
- She puckered her lips