pick Hear it!

pick¹ Definition

pick (pik)

transitive verb

Weaving to throw (a shuttle)

Etymology: ME pykken, var. of picchen, to pitch

noun

  1. one passage or throw of the shuttle of a loom
  2. one of the weft threads, or filling yarns

pick² Definition

pick (pik)

noun

  1. a heavy tool used as in breaking up soil or rock: the metal head is long, narrow, and slightly curved, and pointed at one or both ends, with a wooden handle fitted into its center
  2. any of several pointed tools or instruments for picking: usually in combination toothpick
  3. plectrum
    1. a slender, plastic pin used to hold hair rollers in place
    2. ☆ a comb with widely spaced teeth, used for fine, curly hair

Etymology: ME pike < OE pic, pike

pick³ Definition

pick (pik)

transitive verb

  1. to break up, pierce, or dig up (soil, rock, etc.) with something sharply pointed; use a pick on
  2. to make or form (a hole) with something pointed
    1. to dig, probe, or scratch at with the fingers or with something pointed in an attempt to remove
    2. to clear something from (the teeth) in this way
  4. to remove by pulling as with the fingers; specif., to pluck or gather (flowers, berries, etc.)
  5. to clear (something) in this way; specif.,
    1. to prepare (a fowl) by removing the feathers
    2. to remove the fruit from (a tree, orchard, etc.)
    1. to take up (food, etc.) in small pieces, as a bird with its bill; peck
    2. to eat sparingly or daintily
  7. to pull (fibers, rags, etc.) apart
  8. to choose; select; cull
  9. to look for and find excuse or occasion for (a quarrel or fight)
  10. to look for purposefully and find to pick flaws
  11. ☆
    1. to pluck (the strings on a guitar, banjo, etc.)
    2. to play (a guitar, banjo, etc.) in this way
  12. to open (a lock) as with a wire instead of a key, esp. in a stealthy manner
  13. to steal from (another's pocket, purse, etc.)

Etymology: ME picken, akin to MDu picken, pecken, ON pikka; prob. infl. by OFr piquer, to pierce < pic, pike

intransitive verb

  1. to eat sparingly or fussily
  2. to thieve or pilfer
  3. to use a pick
  4. to gather growing berries, flowers, etc.
  5. to be picked grapes pick easily
  6. to select or choose, esp. in a careful or fussy manner
  7. ☆ to play the guitar, banjo, etc.

noun

  1. the act of picking; stroke or blow with something pointed
    1. the act or right of choosing
    2. the person or thing chosen; choice
  3. the best or most desirable one or ones
  4. the amount of a crop picked at one time
  5. ☆ Basketball screen ()

pick³ Idioms

pick and choose

to choose or select carefully

pick apart

or pick to pieces
  1. to separate or tear into many parts
  2. to find flaws in by examining critically

pick at

  1. to eat small portions of, esp. in a dainty or fussy manner
  2. Informal to nag at; find fault with
  3. to toy or meddle with; finger

pick off

  1. to remove by picking or plucking
  2. to hit with a carefully aimed shot
  3. ☆ Baseball to throw out (a base runner taking a lead) by means of a throw from the pitcher or catcher before or after a pitch

pick on

  1. to choose; select
  2. Informal to single out as for abuse or criticism; annoy; tease

pick one's way

to progress slowly, choosing each move with care

pick out

  1. to choose; select
  2. to single out from or recognize among a group; distinguish
  3. to make out (meaning or sense)
  4. to play (a tune) note by note, as on a piano

pick over

to examine (a number of things) item by item; sort out

pick up

  1. to grasp and raise or lift; take up
  2. to get, gain, find, or learn, esp. by chance or in a casual manner
  3. to stop for and take or bring along
  4. to take into custody; arrest
  5. to accelerate; gain (speed)
  6. to regain (health, power, efficiency, etc.); improve
  7. to resume (an activity) after a pause
    1. to see, hear, discern, etc.
    2. to receive or be in range to receive (a radio or TV transmission, esp. a distant or weak one)
    1. to find and travel along (a route or trail)
    2. to find and follow the dog picked up the scent
  10. ☆ to make neat; tidy up
  11. to take (a bill) with the intention of paying it
  12. Informal to become acquainted with casually or informally, often with hope of sexual activity

pick up on

☆ Informal
  1. to become aware of, understand, appreciate, etc.
  2. to start to do or use

pick Synonyms

pick

n.

  1. An implement for picking

    pickax, mattock, rock hammer; see tool 1.

  2. A blow with a pointed instrument

    peck, nip, dent; see blow 1.

  3. *A choice selection

    best, elect, select, cream, upper per cent, top, topnotchers*, aces*; see also best.

pick Synonyms

pick

v.

  1. To choose

    select, pick out, separate; see choose 1.

  2. To gather

    pluck, pull, choose; see accumulate 1.

  3. To deprive, especially by pecking or plucking

    pluck, strip, defeather, pinfeather, pull off.

  4. To use a pointed instrument

    dent, indent, strike; see hit 2.

pick Usage Examples

Object

  • winner: The studio audience then votes on the best two to pick a winner.
  • blackberry: These trips include picking blackberries to make jam which is then sent home to mom and dad in Yorkshire.
  • fight: A chastened America is unlikely to pick a fight on that right now.
  • ball: In both cases, the free kick should be taken from the spot where the goalkeeper touched or picked the ball up.
  • oakum: Picking oakum was separating threads out of disused ropes.
  • keywords: Choose Your Keywords As I mentioned earlier, it is important to pick good keywords.

Followed by an intransitive particle

  • up: The speakers also seemed to find a way of picking up Forth FM whilst the lecturer was trying to speak.
  • out: Despite being picked out by a witness, the man was freed.

Followed by a transitive particle

  • up: Council tax payers have been picking up the tab for too long.
  • out: Micky then picked out the big West Indian at deep square leg.

Used with why or when

which: First you need to pick which pet you'd like to help.

Particle object:

  • tab: Council tax payers have been picking up the tab for too long.
  • bargain: And visitors to the shop can also spot a celebrity or two as well as pick up a bargain.
  • wicket: Chester batted first but were soon in trouble as Jamie Hackett picked up three early wickets.
  • phone: She picks up the phone, dials, lets it ring twice, then hangs up quickly.
  • pace: This series Phyl and Bev pick up the pace in regards to their antics â they really push the boundaries.
  • leaflet: Pick up a leaflet from the Welcome Desk for more information.

Preposition: of

  • bowler: Dave Nelson the pick of the bowlers taking 5 - 39.
  • bunch: However the 17th on the Lakes is perhaps the pick of the bunch.

Noun used with modifier

litter: Litter pick in a various parts of the village.