chuck 1
/chuk/ , v.t.
1. to toss; throw with a quick motion, usually a short distance.
2. Informal. to resign from; relinquish; give up: He's chucked his job.
3. to pat or tap lightly, as under the chin.
4. Informal. to eject (a person) from a public place (often fol. by out ): They chucked him from the bar.
5. Slang. to vomit; upchuck.
6. chuck it , Brit. Slang. stop it; shut up.
n.
7. a light pat or tap, as under the chin.
8. a toss or pitch; a short throw.
9. a sudden jerk or change in direction.
[ 1575-85; orig. uncert. ]
Syn. 1. fling, pitch, heave, hurl.
chuck 2
/chuk/ , n.
1. the cut of beef between the neck and the shoulder blade. See diag. under beef .
2. a block or log used as a chock.
3. Mach.
a. a device for centering and clamping work in a lathe or other machine tool.
b. a device for holding a drill bit.
v.t.
4. Mach. to hold or secure with a chuck.
[ 1665-75; var. of CHOCK. See CHUNK 1 ]
chuck 3
/chuk/ , v.t. , v.i.
1. to cluck.
n.
2. a clucking sound.
3. Archaic. (used as a term of endearment): my love, my chuck.
[ 1350-1400; ME chuk, expressive word, appar. imit. ]
chuck 4
/chuk/ , n. Western U.S. Slang.
food; provisions.
[ 1840-50; special use of CHUCK 2 ]
chuck 5
/chuk/ , n. Informal.
woodchuck.
[ by shortening ]
chuck 6
/chuk/ , n. Canadian Slang.
1. water.
2. any body of water.
[ 1855-60; c'aak water, reinforced by Lower Chinook l-cuq water ]