shuck

C1 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /ʃʌk/ UK /ʃʌk/ See IPA manual

Minimal pairs

Sounds like suck /s/ vs /ʃ/ Sounds like chuck /tʃ/ vs /ʃ/

Freq #42085

Meanings

1

verb
to remove the husk, pod, or shell from food such as corn, nuts, or oysters

We sat on the porch to shuck the corn before dinner.
2

noun
the husk, pod, or shell removed from grain, nuts, or shellfish

Each oyster shuck was tossed into a bucket beside the table.
3

intj
shucks: used informally to express mild disappointment, embarrassment, or disbelief

Shucks, I was hoping the store would still be open.
4

noun
shucks, informal: anything of little worth or importance

That broken tool is not worth shucks now.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to remove the husk, pod, or... husk shell peel

2 noun · the husk, pod, or shell... husk shell

3 intj · shucks: used informally to... darn alas

4 noun · shucks, informal: anything... nothingworthless thing

Word family

Forms Shucks

Derived forms cornshuckshuckershuckeryshuckishshuckyunshucked

Related forms huskingshelling

Etymology

The origin is uncertain, perhaps from a dialectal descendant or diminutive of an older word for a shell or husk. The interjection shucks and the phrase not worth shucks developed from the notion of discarded husks as things of little value.

Topics

Actions & Processes Register & Style

External links

# shuck

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C1
**Part of speech:** verb, noun, intj
**IPA (US):** /ʃʌk/
**IPA (UK):** /ʃʌk/
**Frequency rank:** 42085

## Meanings
1. to remove the husk, pod, or shell from food such as corn, nuts, or oysters
2. the husk, pod, or shell removed from grain, nuts, or shellfish
3. shucks: used informally to express mild disappointment, embarrassment, or disbelief
4. shucks, informal: anything of little worth or importance

## Examples
- We sat on the porch to shuck the corn before dinner.
- Each oyster shuck was tossed into a bucket beside the table.
- Shucks, I was hoping the store would still be open.
- That broken tool is not worth shucks now.

## Synonyms
- husk
- shell
- peel

## Derived Forms
- cornshuck
- shucker
- shuckery
- shuckish
- shucky
- unshucked

## Related Forms
- husking
- shelling

## Etymology
The origin is uncertain, perhaps from a dialectal descendant or diminutive of an older word for a shell or husk. The interjection shucks and the phrase not worth shucks developed from the notion of discarded husks as things of little value.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes
- Register & Style

markdown