pluck Definition
pluck (pluk)
transitive verb
- to pull off or out; pick
- to drag or snatch; grab
- to pull feathers or hair from to pluck a chicken, pluck eyebrows
- to pull at (the strings of a musical instrument) and release quickly with little jerking movements of the fingers
- Slang to rob or swindle
Etymology: ME plukken < OE pluccian, akin to Ger pflücken < VL *piluccare, to pull out (> Fr éplucher), for L pilare, to deprive of hair < pilus, hair: see pile
intransitive verb
- to pull; tug; snatch: often with at
- to pluck a musical instrument
noun
- an act of pulling; tug
- an animal's heart, liver, lungs, and windpipe, used for food
- courage to meet danger or difficulty; fortitude
pluck Related Forms
pluck Idioms
pluck up
to rouse one's (courage)
pluck Synonyms
pluck Usage Examples
Object
- eyebrow: Luke was too busy getting his eyebrows plucked to join in.
- feather: They can often chase the rest of the flights occupants, plucking feathers from them.
- string: He plucked the strings with his left hand, using his right hand to hold down the chords.
- leaf: It is not enough to pluck a leaf or snip a branch.
- chicken: A striking picture recently in the press showed a small child sitting plucking dead chickens.
- guitar: So I began gripping them with my teeth and gently tugging, meanwhile plucking the guitar.
Modifying Another Word
- delicately: As one delicately plucks the strings of her Celtic harp, the other performs a captivating show with her crystal balls.
- gently: Then she let another string go, I gently plucked that one.
- finally: I finally plucked up courage to go out to the Free Church prayer meeting on the Wednesday night.
- straight: Yes, they seem to have been plucked straight from a modern list of Scouting activities!
- eventually: But, as more and more of my friends started wearing them, I eventually plucked up the courage to try them myself.
Followed by an intransitive particle
off: Rinse and pluck off all the old mix assuming it is organic and rotted.
Followed by a transitive particle
- up: A couple of weeks later I plucked up the courage to write to him.
- off: Just like a wild leopard he plucked off most of the fur first.
Particle object:
courage: A couple of weeks later I plucked up the courage to write to him.
Preposition: from
- obscurity: Many of you might be asking why a young unknown should be plucked from obscurity to star in a motion picture?
- air: World s Fastest Card Trick - A thought of card is plucked from mid air!
- sea: We stayed on deck long enough to see the second bag plucked from the sea, its contents likewise dumped down the chute.
Preposition: up
courage: Two weeks after Sassoon's arrival, Wilfred Owen plucked up enough courage to introduce himself to the older poet.
Infinitive complement
continue: Because I--I adore a man who has the pluck to continue to capsize every day or two.

