pick¹ Definition
pick (pik)
noun
- one passage or throw of the shuttle of a loom
- one of the weft threads, or filling yarns
pick² Definition
pick (pik)
noun
- 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
- any of several pointed tools or instruments for picking: usually in combination toothpick
- plectrum
- a slender, plastic pin used to hold hair rollers in place
- ☆ a comb with widely spaced teeth, used for fine, curly hair
Etymology: ME pike < OE pic, pike
pick³ Definition
pick (pik)
transitive verb
- to break up, pierce, or dig up (soil, rock, etc.) with something sharply pointed; use a pick on
- to make or form (a hole) with something pointed
- to dig, probe, or scratch at with the fingers or with something pointed in an attempt to remove
- to clear something from (the teeth) in this way
- to remove by pulling as with the fingers; specif., to pluck or gather (flowers, berries, etc.)
- to clear (something) in this way; specif.,
- to prepare (a fowl) by removing the feathers
- to remove the fruit from (a tree, orchard, etc.)
- to take up (food, etc.) in small pieces, as a bird with its bill; peck
- to eat sparingly or daintily
- to pull (fibers, rags, etc.) apart
- to choose; select; cull
- to look for and find excuse or occasion for (a quarrel or fight)
- to look for purposefully and find to pick flaws
- ☆
- to pluck (the strings on a guitar, banjo, etc.)
- to play (a guitar, banjo, etc.) in this way
- to open (a lock) as with a wire instead of a key, esp. in a stealthy manner
- 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
- to eat sparingly or fussily
- to thieve or pilfer
- to use a pick
- to gather growing berries, flowers, etc.
- to be picked grapes pick easily
- to select or choose, esp. in a careful or fussy manner
- ☆ to play the guitar, banjo, etc.
noun
- the act of picking; stroke or blow with something pointed
- the act or right of choosing
- the person or thing chosen; choice
- the best or most desirable one or ones
- the amount of a crop picked at one time
- ☆ Basketball screen ()
pick³ Idioms
pick and choose
to choose or select carefully
pick apart
or pick to pieces- to separate or tear into many parts
- to find flaws in by examining critically
pick at
- to eat small portions of, esp. in a dainty or fussy manner
- Informal to nag at; find fault with
- to toy or meddle with; finger
pick off
- to remove by picking or plucking
- to hit with a carefully aimed shot
- ☆ 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
- to choose; select
- 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
- to choose; select
- to single out from or recognize among a group; distinguish
- to make out (meaning or sense)
- 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
- to grasp and raise or lift; take up
- to get, gain, find, or learn, esp. by chance or in a casual manner
- to stop for and take or bring along
- to take into custody; arrest
- to accelerate; gain (speed)
- to regain (health, power, efficiency, etc.); improve
- to resume (an activity) after a pause
- to see, hear, discern, etc.
- to receive or be in range to receive (a radio or TV transmission, esp. a distant or weak one)
- to find and travel along (a route or trail)
- to find and follow the dog picked up the scent
- ☆ to make neat; tidy up
- to take (a bill) with the intention of paying it
- Informal to become acquainted with casually or informally, often with hope of sexual activity
pick up on
☆ Informal- to become aware of, understand, appreciate, etc.
- to start to do or use
pick Synonyms
pick
n.
pick Synonyms
pick
v.
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.
Browse dictionary entries near pick
- ‹ piciform
- ‹ pichiciego
- ‹ piceous
- ‹ pice
- ‹ piccolo
- ‹ piccata
- ‹ Piccard
- ‹ piccaninny
- ‹ piccalilli
- ‹ Piccadilly
- pick a fight ›
- pick apart ›
- pick-me-up ›
- pick off ›
- pick one's way ›
- pick out ›
- Pick's disease ›
- pick up ›
- pickaback ›
- pickaninny ›

