pick
19 ENTRIES FOUND:
picks;
picked;
picking
picks;
picked;
picking
Britannica Dictionary definition of PICK
[+ object]
1
:
to choose or select (someone or something) from a group
—
see also cherry-pick
-
Pick a card—any card.
-
They picked a name out of a hat.
-
The winners will be picked by lottery.
-
She was picked to replace the retiring CEO.
-
Who do you think he will pick as/for his running mate?
-
He picked the blue tie to wear to the interview.
-
He picked the right/wrong answer.
-
They both picked New York to win the World Series. [=they both said that they thought the New York team would win the World Series]
2
:
to remove (a fruit, flower, etc.) from a plant especially by using your hand
—
see also handpick
-
She picked a flower for her mother.
-
I picked some carrots and a few tomatoes.
-
They sell freshly picked fruits and vegetables.
-
Our grapes are picked by hand.
3
a
:
to remove unwanted material from (something) by using your finger, a small tool, etc.
-
It's considered impolite to pick your nose in public.
-
He was sitting at the table, picking his teeth with a toothpick.
b
always followed by an adverb or preposition
:
to remove (something) from something by using your fingers
-
Pick the meat from/off the bones.
-
She picked all the pepperoni off (of) the pizza.
4
chiefly US
:
to play (a guitar, banjo, etc.) by pulling the strings with your fingers or with a pick
:
pluck
-
She was strumming and picking her guitar.
bone to pick
pick a fight/quarrel
:
to deliberately start a fight with someone
-
Never pick a fight you can't win.
-
She sometimes picked fights with other girls at school.
pick a lock
:
to open a lock by using something that is not the key
-
He used a knife to pick the lock on the front door.
pick and choose
:
to choose only the best or most appropriate things or people
-
As one of Hollywood's most successful actors, he's now in a position to carefully pick and choose his roles.
-
The newspaper picks and chooses which stories to report.
-
With so many candidates, we can afford to pick and choose. [=we can afford to take our time and only choose the best candidate]
pick apart
[phrasal verb]
pick (someone or something) apart
or
pick apart (someone or something)
chiefly US
:
to say all of the things that are bad or wrong about (someone or something)
:
to criticize (a person or thing) in a very detailed and usually unkind way
-
You can expect political analysts to pick apart the governor's speech.
-
The film's critics picked his performance apart.
pick at
[phrasal verb]
1
pick at (something)
a
:
to eat small amounts of (food) very slowly usually because you do not want to eat
-
She picked at a salad while I ate my steak.
b
:
to pull on (something) with your fingertips or your fingernails often because you are nervous
-
She picked at the buttons on her jacket while waiting for her interview.
-
He was picking at his shoelaces.
2
pick at (someone or something)
:
to criticize (someone or something) especially for small mistakes
-
They're constantly arguing and picking at each other.
pick off
[phrasal verb]
1
pick off (someone or something)
or
pick (someone or something) off
:
to aim at and shoot (someone or something)
-
The hunters hid by the stream and waited to pick off deer as they passed.
-
A sniper was picking off soldiers from the top of the building.
2
pick off (someone)
or
pick (someone) off
baseball
:
to cause (a player who is standing close to a base) to be tagged out by making a quick throw
—
see also pickoff
-
The runner on second base was picked off by the catcher.
-
The pitcher almost picked her off with a quick throw to first base.
pick on
[phrasal verb]
1
pick on (someone)
:
to laugh at or make fun of (someone) in an unkind way
-
Kids used to pick on me for wearing old worn-out clothes.
-
He used to get picked on by the other kids at the bus stop.
-
Why is she always picking on me?
-
Hey, why don't you pick on someone your own size?
2
:
to unfairly criticize (one person or group) when others also deserve to be criticized
-
It's unfair to pick on teachers for the problems in our schools when politicians are equally to blame.
pick out
[phrasal verb]
1
pick (something) out
or
pick out (something)
a
:
to choose or select (the best or most appropriate person or thing) from a group
-
It took him an hour to pick out [=pick] what to wear.
-
They let their two-year-old daughter pick out her own clothes.
-
I've picked out the perfect spot for our picnic.
-
picking out a gift for a friend
b
:
to play (a song, melody, etc.) by playing each note separately
-
She sat picking out a tune on the piano.
2
pick (someone or something) out
or
pick out (someone or something)
:
to see and identify (someone or something)
-
His red hair makes it easy to pick him out of/in a crowd.
-
The police had a witness pick the suspect out of a lineup.
-
I could pick out the pattern against the background.
-
No one was able to pick out the originals from the copies.
pick over
[phrasal verb]
pick over (something)
or
pick (something) over
:
to look at (a group of objects or an amount of material) in order to choose the best ones or to remove pieces you do not want
-
They picked over the strawberries and threw away the green ones.
-
Pick over the fish to remove any bones.
-
The applications were thoroughly picked over and only the best applicants were given interviews.
pick pockets
or pick someone's pocket
:
to steal money or objects from someone's pockets or purse
—
see also pickpocket
-
One of the boys distracted her while the other picked her pocket.
-
She survived on the streets by shoplifting and picking pockets.
pick (someone or something) to pieces/shreds
:
to study and criticize all of the parts of (someone or something)
-
The media picked his personal life to pieces.
-
Her ideas were picked to shreds by her coworkers.
pick someone's brain/brains
pick (something) clean
:
to remove all the material that covers something
-
The birds picked the bones clean. = The bones were picked clean by the birds.
pick up
[phrasal verb]
1
pick (someone or something) up
or
pick up (someone or something)
a
:
to lift (someone or something) from the ground or a low surface
-
Would you pick that pencil up for me, please?
-
She picked the book up off/from the ground by its cover.
-
He bent to pick up his hat.
-
Pick up the ball!
-
They picked up their guitars and started to play.
-
She always picks up her baby when he cries.
b
:
to go somewhere in order to get and bring back (someone or something)
-
I have to pick up my kids at school. = I have to pick them up from school.
-
Have you picked up the car from the repair shop yet?
-
He picked up his dry cleaning.
-
They'll hold our tickets but we have to pick them up an hour before the show.
c
:
to let or put (people or things) into or onto a car, bus, ship, etc.
-
She had a taxi pick her up at the airport and take her to the hotel.
-
Have you ever picked up a hitchhiker?
-
The ship will be picking up more cargo at the next port.
2
a
pick up
or
pick (something) up
or
pick up (something)
chiefly US
:
to make an area clean and organized by removing trash and putting things in the proper places
-
We have just enough time to pick up [=clean up] and wash our hands before dinner.
-
The children worked together to pick up the toys.
-
Pick up that mess!
-
You may go outside after you pick your room up.
-
Everyone needs to help pick up the kitchen after dinner.
-
We spent the morning picking up the yard after the storm.
b
pick up after (someone)
:
to clean the mess created by (someone)
-
You have to pick up after yourself if you make a mess.
-
His mother still picks up after him.
3
:
to answer a telephone
-
I called your house, but no one picked up.
-
She got to the phone just before the answering machine picked up.
4
:
to become busy usually after a period of little activity
:
to improve or increase in activity
-
Sales slowed down after the winter holidays, but we're expecting things to pick up again this summer.
-
Business really picked up last month.
-
The economy/market seems to be picking up.
5
a
:
to increase in speed or strength
-
The wind will pick up later this afternoon.
-
The movie starts out slowly, but the pace picks up when the two main characters meet for the first time.
b
pick up speed/momentum (etc.)
:
to begin to have more speed/momentum (etc.)
-
The cyclists quickly picked up speed [=gained speed; began to go faster] as they headed down the mountain.
-
His campaign has begun to pick up momentum.
-
The idea began to pick up steam [=become more popular] around the turn of the century.
c
pick up the pace
:
to go faster
-
If we want to finish on time, we're going to have to pick up the pace.
6
a
:
to begin again after a temporary stop
-
The discussion picked up this morning at the point where we had stopped yesterday.
-
After being separated for three years, they picked up (right) where they left off.
b
pick (something) up
or
pick up (something)
:
to start (something) again after a temporary stop
-
We'll pick up this discussion tomorrow.
7
pick (something) up
or
pick up (something)
a
:
to buy or get (something)
-
Have you picked up a copy of her new CD yet?
-
On Tuesdays, he picks up dinner at our favorite restaurant and brings it home.
-
She stopped to pick up a few groceries at the supermarket.
b
:
to earn or gain (something)
-
She'll likely pick up an award for her performance in the film.
-
The team picked up [=gained] a few yards on the last play.
-
They've finally picked up their first victory of the season.
c
:
to become aware of (something, such as a story) and begin to write about it, work on it, etc.
-
Few people had heard about this problem until the press picked up [=took up] the story.
d
:
to learn (something) usually in an informal way
-
I picked up a few French phrases on my trip to Paris.
-
He seems to pick foreign languages up very easily.
-
She uses a style of singing she picked up from listening to jazz music.
-
He's been picking up some bad habits from his friends.
e
:
to become sick with (an illness) from someone or something
-
I think I picked up [=caught] a cold from someone at work.
f
:
to be able to see, hear, or smell (something)
:
to become aware of (something)
-
This radio lets me pick up stations from other countries.
-
The planes were picked up [=detected] by radar.
-
telescopes picking up the faint glow of distant stars
-
The dogs picked up the scent and started to bark.
-
He learned that he could pick up cues from his partner if he paid close attention.
-
They studied the evidence and managed to pick up some clues.
8
pick (someone) up
or
pick up (someone)
a
:
to meet and begin a usually brief sexual relationship with (someone)
-
She used to go to bars to pick up men.
-
He picked her up at a club.
b
of the police
:
to use the power of the law to take and keep (someone, such as a criminal)
-
The cops picked up the suspect at a local bar.
-
The police picked him up [=arrested him] for trespassing/robbery/murder.
-
The police picked him up for questioning. [=they brought him to the police station in order to ask him questions]
c
:
to make (someone) feel more energetic and lively
—
see also pick-me-up
-
I drank some coffee hoping that it would pick me up a little.
d
sports
:
to get (a player) from another team or from some other source
-
The team picked up three new players in the draft.
-
They picked him up from a rival team.
e
sports
:
to begin to guard (a player from the opposite team) during a game
-
Your job is to pick up an opposing player and block him.
9
pick yourself up
a
:
to stand up again after falling
-
I fell to the ground but picked myself up and continued running.
b
:
to recover from a difficult situation
-
After his divorce, he picked himself up and started looking for love again.
10
pick up and leave/go
:
to leave suddenly with your possessions
-
I couldn't just pick up and leave/go without saying goodbye.
11
pick up the tab/bill/check
:
to pay the money that is owed for something
-
When she stays at expensive hotels during business trips, her company picks up the tab.
-
They always offer to pick up the check when we go out to dinner with them.
12
pick up the pieces
:
to try to make a situation better after something bad has happened
—
see also pick up the cudgels for at 1cudgel, pick up the gauntlet at 2gauntlet, pick up the slack at 2slack, pick up the threads at 1thread
-
After her business went bankrupt, she picked up the pieces and started again.
-
They created the problem, and now they expect us to pick up the pieces.
pick up on
[phrasal verb]
1
pick up on (something)
a
:
to notice or become aware of (something)
-
He didn't pick up on the hint.
-
I seemed to be the only one who picked up on the mistake.
-
The reader soon picks up on the fact that the story's main character is crazy.
-
She was nervous, but no one picked up on it.
b
:
to take (something, such as an idea) from another person or group and use it or continue to develop it yourself
-
The media has recently begun to pick up on this issue.
-
The fashion world picked up on this trend after she wore that dress to the award show.
-
The other students quickly picked up on [=adopted] the expression.
c
:
to continue talking about (a statement, subject, etc.)
-
I'd like to pick up on your last comment.
-
She began the class by picking up on a point she made earlier.
2
pick up (someone) on (something)
or
pick (someone) up on (something)
British
:
to question (someone) about (something said or done)
-
I'd like to pick up the last speaker on one of the points she made.
-
When he said that whales were fish, I felt I had to pick him up on it. [=to challenge him on it]
pick your way
always followed by an adverb or preposition
:
to walk very slowly while carefully choosing where to put your feet
-
The horses slowly pick their way across the rocky ground.
-
We picked our way down the muddy path.
2
pick
/ˈpɪk/
noun
plural
picks
2
pick
/ˈpɪk/
noun
plural
picks
Britannica Dictionary definition of PICK
1
[singular]
:
the ability to choose the person or thing that you want
-
If you get there early enough, you'll have your pick of seats.
-
All of these restaurants are good. Take your pick. [=choose any of them]
-
The girls got to choose their partners, and she got (the) first pick. [=she was able to choose her partner first]
2
[count]
:
someone or something that is chosen
— usually singular
-
My picks [=choices] are the roasted duck and the chocolate cake.
-
Who is your pick to win? [=who do you think will win?]
-
The team made him the second pick [=the second person who was chosen] in the 1998 draft.
-
She was their number one pick. = She was their first pick. [=she was the person they wanted most]
-
Here is our top pick for this year's wine list.
3
[singular]
:
the best part of something or the best thing or things in a group
— used in the phrase the pick of
-
It was surely the pick of this year's films. [=it was the best film this year]
-
I read many books this summer, and that was the pick of the bunch. [=the best of the bunch/group]
-
There are many good cars on the market now, but this one is clearly the pick of the litter. [=the best one]
—
compare 3pick
3
pick
/ˈpɪk/
noun
plural
picks
3
pick
/ˈpɪk/
noun
plural
picks
Britannica Dictionary definition of PICK
[count]
2
:
a small, thin piece of plastic or metal that is used to play a guitar or similar instrument
— called also
plectrum
—
compare 2pick
