pucker

1 of 2

verb

puck·​er ˈpə-kər How to pronounce pucker (audio)
puckered; puckering ˈpə-k(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce pucker (audio)

intransitive verb

: to become wrinkled or constricted

transitive verb

: to contract into folds or wrinkles

pucker

2 of 2

noun

: a fold or wrinkle in a normally even surface

Examples of pucker in a Sentence

Verb His skin puckered a little around the scar.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
This process makes the lunar surface prone to puckering—just as a smooth grape dries into a wrinkly raisin. Shi En Kim, Smithsonian Magazine, 6 Feb. 2024 The image is gross, but there is also something alluring and even sensual about it—the red puckered edges around the scab proffering it like a shiny gem, set in a prong. Naomi Fry, The New Yorker, 28 Nov. 2023 In another photo taken closer up of the pair, Summer could be seen smiling once again as the singer puckered her lips in a kiss. Kimberlee Speakman, Peoplemag, 4 Jan. 2024 Back in the ‘80s, portraits of young Moon captured her beauty in the most natural light: pillow-soft curls, full eyebrows, and puckered lips. India Espy-Jones, Essence, 17 Nov. 2023 The narrowing of the blood vessels causes the overall volume of skin to reduce, puckering the skin into these distinct wrinkle patterns. Guy German, Binghamton University, Discover Magazine, 31 Aug. 2023 In the years after the disease was first discovered, scientists had no idea what was causing the beech tree leaves to develop dark green bands and then to curl and pucker. Rich Schapiro, NBC News, 6 Aug. 2023 The damage consists of a slight marbling of red and green on the back of fresh new foliage, and sometimes there is a slight crinkling, curling or puckering in the new foliage. Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Aug. 2023 But the fit isn’t perfect, and some of those cage straps look puckered along the model’s curves. Lauren Puckett-Pope, ELLE, 28 July 2023
Noun
The first photo shows him with his hand on his chin, as if lost in thought, but also making his bottom lip pucker. Anna Holmes, The New Yorker, 23 Feb. 2024 This baby steamer works quickly to smooth creases and eliminate puckers from fabrics, and the long power cord provides flexibility when outlets are scarce. Theresa Holland, Travel + Leisure, 26 Oct. 2023 Plus, its leather material makes for a supple, shiny surface that catches the light with every pleat and pucker. Alyssa Brascia, Peoplemag, 8 Aug. 2023 The fish, rubbed with turmeric and Aleppo pepper, arrives in a dark-green moat created from fish stock, garlic, cilantro and fenugreek leaves, along with tamarind for pucker. Tom Sietsema, Washington Post, 4 Aug. 2023 Grape juice gives a hint of sweet pucker, while mint and feta add fresh, savory flavor. Sheena Chihak, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 July 2023 To instantly pump up the volume on their puckers, stars and celebrity makeup artists look to some of the best lip plumpers and pout-boosting lipsticks as a painless, needle-free alternative to lip filler. Ingrid Schmidt, The Hollywood Reporter, 23 June 2023 The actor Jharrel Jerome shows us Cootie’s trepidation by always playing him small, tilting his head against his shoulder, collapsing his frame inward, his lips in an expectant pucker. Phillip MacIak, New York Times, 19 June 2023 These complications included infection, hematoma (the accumulation of fluid), and aesthetic issues, such as partial nipple graft loss and dog ears (where excess skin or fat puckers at the end of an incision). H Conley, STAT, 2 June 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pucker.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

probably irregular from poke entry 1

First Known Use

Verb

1598, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Noun

1598, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pucker was in 1598

Dictionary Entries Near pucker

Cite this Entry

“Pucker.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pucker. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

pucker

1 of 2 verb
puck·​er ˈpək-ər How to pronounce pucker (audio)
puckered; puckering -(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce pucker (audio)
: to contract into folds or wrinkles
pucker one's lips

pucker

2 of 2 noun
: a fold or wrinkle caused by puckering
puckery
ˈpək-(ə-)rē
adjective
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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