pick up

- 4 dictionary results

pick

1 [pik]

–verb (used with object)

1.	to choose or select from among a group: to pick a contestant from the audience.

2.	to seek and find occasion for; provoke: to pick a fight.

3.	to attempt to find; seek out: to pick flaws in an argument.

4.	to steal the contents of: Her pocket was picked yesterday.

5.	to open (a lock) with a device other than the key, as a sharp instrument or wire, esp. for the purpose of burglary.

6.	to pierce, indent, dig into, or break up (something) with a pointed instrument: to pick rock; to pick ore.

7.	to form (a hole) by such action: to pick a hole in asphalt.

8.	to use a pointed instrument, the fingers, the teeth, the beak, etc., on (a thing), in order to remove or loosen something, as a small part or adhering matter: to pick one's teeth.

9.	to prepare for use by removing a covering piece by piece, as feathers, hulls, or other parts: to pick a fowl.

10.	to detach or remove piece by piece with the fingers: She picked the meat from the bones.

11.	to pluck or gather one by one: to pick flowers.

12.	(of birds or other animals) to take up (small bits of food) with the bill or teeth.

13.	to eat daintily or in small morsels.

14.	to separate, pull apart, or pull to pieces: to pick fibers.

15.

Music.

a.	to pluck (the strings of an instrument).

b.	to play (a stringed instrument) by plucking with the fingers.

–verb (used without object)

16.	to strike with or use a pick or other pointed instrument on something.

17.	(of birds or other animals) to take up small bits of food with the bill or teeth: The hens were busily picking about in their coop.

18.	to select carefully or fastidiously.

19.	to pilfer; steal.

20.	to pluck or gather fruit, flowers, etc.

21.	Basketball. to execute a pick.

–noun

22.	the act of choosing or selecting; choice; selection: to take one's pick.

23.	a person or thing that is selected: He is our pick for president.

24.	the choicest or most desirable part, example, or examples: This horse is the pick of the stable.

25.	the right of selection: He gave me my pick of the litter.

26.	the quantity of a crop picked, as from trees, bushes, etc., at a particular time: The pick was poor this season.

27.

Printing.

a.	a speck of dirt, hardened ink, or extra metal on set type or a plate.

b.	a small area removed from the surface of a coated paper by ink that adheres to the form.

28.	a stroke with something pointed: The rock shattered at the first pick of the ax.

29.	Basketball. an offensive maneuver in which a player moves into a position between a defender and a teammate with the ball so as to prevent the defender from interfering with the shot.

—Verb phrases

30.

pick at,

a.	to find fault with unnecessarily or persistently; nag.

b.	to eat sparingly or daintily: As he was ill, he only picked at his food.

c.	to grasp at; touch; handle: The baby loved to pick at her mother's glasses.

31.

pick off,

a.	to remove by pulling or plucking off.

b.	to single out and shoot: The hunter picked off a duck rising from the marsh.

c.	Baseball. to put out (a base runner) in a pick-off play.

32.

pick on,

a.	Informal. to criticize or blame; tease; harass.

b.	to single out; choose: The professor always picks on me to translate long passages.

33.

pick out,

a.	to choose; designate: to pick out one's successor.

b.	to distinguish from that which surrounds or accompanies; recognize: to pick out a well-known face in a crowd.

c.	to discern (sense or meaning); discriminate.

d.	to play (a melody) by ear; work out note by note.

e.	to extract by picking.

34.	pick over, to examine (an assortment of items) in order to make a selection: Eager shoppers were picking over the shirts on the bargain tables.

35.

pick up,

a.	to lift or take up: to pick up a stone.

b.	to collect, esp. in an orderly manner: Pick up the tools when you're finished.

c.	to recover (one's courage, health, etc.); regain.

d.	to gain by occasional opportunity; obtain casually: to pick up a livelihood.

e.	to learn, as by experience: I've picked up a few Japanese phrases.

f.	to claim: to pick up one's bags at an airport.

g.	to take (a person or thing) into a car or ship, etc., or along with one.

h.	to bring into range of reception, observation, etc.: to pick up Rome on one's radio.

i.	to accelerate; gain (speed).

j.	to put in good order; tidy: to pick up a room.

k.	to make progress; improve: Business is beginning to pick up.

l.	to catch or contract, as a disease.

m.	Informal. to become acquainted with informally or casually, often in hope of a sexual relationship: Let's pick up some dates tonight.

n.	to resume or continue after being left off: Let's pick up the discussion in our next meeting.

o.	Informal. to take into custody; arrest: They picked him up for vagrancy.

p.	Informal. to obtain; find; purchase: She picked up some nice shoes on sale.

q.	Slang. to steal: to pick up jewels and silver.

r.	to accept, as in order to pay: to pick up the check.

36.

pick up on, Informal.

a.	become aware or cognizant of; be perceptive about; notice: to pick up on the hostess's hostility.

b.	to pay special attention to; keep an eye on: to pick up on a troubled student.

—Idioms

37.	pick and choose, to be very careful or particular in choosing: With such a limited supply of fresh fruit, you won't be able to pick and choose.

38.	pick apart, to criticize severely or in great detail: They picked her apart the moment she left the room.

39.	pick it up, Informal. to move, work, etc., at a faster rate.

40.	pick one's way or steps, to walk with care and deliberation: She picked her way across the muddy field.

41.	pick someone's brains. brain (def. 12).

Origin:
1250–1300; v. ME pyken, pikken, pekken, c. D pikken, G picken, ON pikka to pick; akin to peck ² , pike ⁵ ; (n.) deriv. of the v.

Related forms:

pick⋅a⋅ble, adjective

Synonyms:
1. See choose. 4. rob, pilfer. 12. reap, collect.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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pick¹ (pĭk)

v. picked, pick·ing, picks

v. tr.

1. To select from a group: The best swimmer was picked.
2. To select or cull.
3. To gather in; harvest: They were picking cotton.
4. To gather the harvest from: picked the field in one day.
5. To remove the outer covering of; pluck: pick a chicken clean of feathers.
6. To tear off bit by bit: pick meat from the bones.
7. To pluck (an instrument's strings).
8. To play (an instrument) by plucking its strings.
9. To play (a tune) in this manner: picked a melody out on the guitar.
1. To gather in; harvest: They were picking cotton.
2. To gather the harvest from: picked the field in one day.
3. To remove the outer covering of; pluck: pick a chicken clean of feathers.
4. To tear off bit by bit: pick meat from the bones.
5. To pluck (an instrument's strings).
6. To play (an instrument) by plucking its strings.
7. To play (a tune) in this manner: picked a melody out on the guitar.
1. To remove the outer covering of; pluck: pick a chicken clean of feathers.
2. To tear off bit by bit: pick meat from the bones.
3. To pluck (an instrument's strings).
4. To play (an instrument) by plucking its strings.
5. To play (a tune) in this manner: picked a melody out on the guitar.
To remove extraneous matter from (the teeth).
To poke and pull at (something) with the fingers.
To break up, separate, or detach by means of a sharp pointed instrument.
To pierce or make (a hole) with a sharp pointed instrument.
To take up (food) with the beak; peck: The parrot picked its seed.
To steal the contents of: My pocket was picked.
To open (a lock) without the use of a key.
To provoke: pick a fight.
Music
1. To pluck (an instrument's strings).
2. To play (an instrument) by plucking its strings.
3. To play (a tune) in this manner: picked a melody out on the guitar.

v. intr.

To decide with care or forethought.
To work with a pick.
To find fault or make petty criticisms; carp: He's always picking about something.
To be harvested or gathered: The ripe apples picked easily.

The act of picking, especially with a sharp pointed instrument.
The act of selecting or choosing; choice: got first pick of the desserts.
Something selected as the most desirable; the best or choicest part: the pick of the crop.
The amount or quantity of a crop that is picked by hand.
Basketball A screen.
To pluck or pull at, especially with the fingers.
To eat sparingly or without appetite: The child just picked at the food.
Informal To nag: Don't pick at me.
To shoot after singling out: The hunter picked the ducks off one by one.
Baseball To catch (a base runner) off base and put out with a quick throw, as from the pitcher or catcher, often to a specified base.
Sports To intercept, as a football pass.
To choose or select: picked out a nice watch.
To discern from the surroundings; distinguish: picked out their cousins from the crowd.
1. To take up (something) by hand: pick up a book.
2. To collect or gather: picked up some pebbles.
3. To tidy up: picked up the bedroom.
4. To acquire casually or by accident: picked up a new coat on sale.
5. To acquire (knowledge) by learning or experience: picked up French quickly.
6. To claim: picked up her car at the repair shop.
7. To buy: picked up some milk at the store.
8. To accept (a bill or charge) in order to pay it: Let me pick up the tab.
9. To come down with (a disease): picked up a virus at school.
10. To gain: picked up five yards on that play.
11. To come upon and follow: The dog picked up the scent.
12. To come upon and observe: picked up two submarines on sonar.
To take on (passengers or freight, for example): The bus picks up commuters at five stops.
Informal
1. To acquire casually or by accident: picked up a new coat on sale.
2. To acquire (knowledge) by learning or experience: picked up French quickly.
3. To claim: picked up her car at the repair shop.
4. To buy: picked up some milk at the store.
5. To accept (a bill or charge) in order to pay it: Let me pick up the tab.
6. To come down with (a disease): picked up a virus at school.
7. To gain: picked up five yards on that play.
8. To come upon and follow: The dog picked up the scent.
9. To come upon and observe: picked up two submarines on sonar.
Informal To take into custody: The agents picked up six smugglers.
Slang To make casual acquaintance with, usually in anticipation of sexual relations.
1. To come upon and follow: The dog picked up the scent.
2. To come upon and observe: picked up two submarines on sonar.
To continue after a break: Let's pick up the discussion after lunch.
Informal To improve in condition or activity: Sales picked up last fall.
Slang To prepare a sudden departure: She just picked up and left.

Phrasal Verb(s):
pick apartTo refute or find flaws in by close examination: The lawyer picked the testimony apart.
pick at

To pluck or pull at, especially with the fingers.
To eat sparingly or without appetite: The child just picked at the food.
Informal To nag: Don't pick at me.

pick off

To shoot after singling out: The hunter picked the ducks off one by one.
Baseball To catch (a base runner) off base and put out with a quick throw, as from the pitcher or catcher, often to a specified base.
Sports To intercept, as a football pass.

pick onTo tease or bully.
pick out

To choose or select: picked out a nice watch.
To discern from the surroundings; distinguish: picked out their cousins from the crowd.

pick overTo sort out or examine item by item: picked over the grapes before buying them.
pick up

1. To take up (something) by hand: pick up a book.
2. To collect or gather: picked up some pebbles.
3. To tidy up: picked up the bedroom.
4. To acquire casually or by accident: picked up a new coat on sale.
5. To acquire (knowledge) by learning or experience: picked up French quickly.
6. To claim: picked up her car at the repair shop.
7. To buy: picked up some milk at the store.
8. To accept (a bill or charge) in order to pay it: Let me pick up the tab.
9. To come down with (a disease): picked up a virus at school.
10. To gain: picked up five yards on that play.
11. To come upon and follow: The dog picked up the scent.
12. To come upon and observe: picked up two submarines on sonar.
To take on (passengers or freight, for example): The bus picks up commuters at five stops.
Informal
1. To acquire casually or by accident: picked up a new coat on sale.
2. To acquire (knowledge) by learning or experience: picked up French quickly.
3. To claim: picked up her car at the repair shop.
4. To buy: picked up some milk at the store.
5. To accept (a bill or charge) in order to pay it: Let me pick up the tab.
6. To come down with (a disease): picked up a virus at school.
7. To gain: picked up five yards on that play.
8. To come upon and follow: The dog picked up the scent.
9. To come upon and observe: picked up two submarines on sonar.
Informal To take into custody: The agents picked up six smugglers.
Slang To make casual acquaintance with, usually in anticipation of sexual relations.
1. To come upon and follow: The dog picked up the scent.
2. To come upon and observe: picked up two submarines on sonar.
To continue after a break: Let's pick up the discussion after lunch.
Informal To improve in condition or activity: Sales picked up last fall.
Slang To prepare a sudden departure: She just picked up and left.

Idiom(s):
pick and chooseTo select with great care.

Idiom(s):
pick holes inTo seek and discover flaws or a flaw in: picked holes in the argument.

Idiom(s):
pick (one's) wayTo find passage and make careful progress through it: picked her way down the slope.

Idiom(s):
pick (someone) to piecesTo criticize sharply.

Idiom(s):
pick up on Informal

To take into the mind and understand, typically with speed: is quick to pick up on new computer skills.
To notice: picked up on my roommate's bad mood and left him alone.

[Middle English piken, to prick, from Old English *pīcian, to prick, and from Old French piquer, to pierce (from Vulgar Latin *piccāre; see pique).]
pick'er n.

Word Origin & History

pick (n.)

c.1300, pyk "pikestaff," variant of pike (2). Pic "pickaxe" is attested from 1340. Sense of "plectrum for a guitar, lute, etc." is from 1895; as a type of basketball block it is attested from 1951. Meaning "choicest part or example" is first recorded 1760, from pick (v.).

Idioms & Phrases

pick up

Lift, take up by hand, as in Please pick up that book from the floor. [Early 1300s]
Collect or gather, as in First they had to pick up the pieces of broken glass.
Tidy, put in order, as in Let's pick up the bedroom, or I'm always picking up after Pat. [Mid-1800s]
Take on passengers or freight, as in The bus picks up commuters at three stops.
Acquire casually, get without great effort or by accident. For example, I picked up a nice coat at the sale, or She had no trouble picking up French. This usage is even extended to contracting diseases, as in I think I picked up the baby's cold. [Early 1500s]
Claim, as in He picked up his laundry every Friday.
Buy, as in Please pick up some wine at the store on your way home.
pick up the bill or check or tab. Accept a charge in order to pay it, as in They always wait for us to pick up the tab. [Colloquial; mid-1900s]
Increase speed or rate, as in The plane picked up speed, or The conductor told the strings to pick up the tempo.
Gain, as in They picked up five yards on that pass play.
Take into custody, apprehend, as in The police picked him up for burglary. [Colloquial; second half of 1800s]
Make a casual acquaintance with, especially in anticipation of sexual relations, as in A stranger tried to pick her up at the bus station. [Slang; late 1800s]
Come upon, find, detect, as in The dog picked up the scent, or They picked up two submarines on sonar, or I can't pick up that station on the car radio.
Resume, as in Let's pick up the conversation after lunch.
Improve or cause to improve in condition or activity, as in Sales picked up last fall, or He picked up quickly after he got home from the hospital, or A cup of coffee will pick you up. [1700s]
Gather one's belongings, as in She just picked up and left him.
pick oneself up. Recover from a fall or other mishap, as in Jim picked himself up and stood there waiting. [Mid-1800s] Also see the subsequent entries beginning with pick up.

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