pick¹ (pĭk)

v., picked, pick·ing, picks.

v.tr.

1. 1. To select from a group: The best swimmer was picked.
   2. To select or cull.
2. 1. To gather in; harvest: They were picking cotton.
   2. To gather the harvest from: picked the field in one day.
3. 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.
4. To remove extraneous matter from (the teeth).
5. To poke and pull at (something) with the fingers.
6. To break up, separate, or detach by means of a sharp pointed instrument.
7. To pierce or make (a hole) with a sharp pointed instrument.
8. To take up (food) with the beak; peck: The parrot picked its seed.
9. To steal the contents of: My pocket was picked.
10. To open (a lock) without the use of a key.
11. To provoke: pick a fight.
12. 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.

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

n.

1. The act of picking, especially with a sharp pointed instrument.
2. The act of selecting or choosing; choice: got first pick of the desserts.
3. Something selected as the most desirable; the best or choicest part: the pick of the crop.
4. The amount or quantity of a crop that is picked by hand.
5. Basketball. A screen.

phrasal verbs:

pick apart

1. To refute or find flaws in by close examination: The lawyer picked the testimony apart.

pick at

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

pick off

1. To shoot after singling out: The hunter picked the ducks off one by one.
2. 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.
3. Sports. To intercept, as a football pass.

pick on

1. To tease or bully.

pick out

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

pick over

1. To sort out or examine item by item: picked over the grapes before buying them.

pick up

1. 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.
2. To take on (passengers or freight, for example): The bus picks up commuters at five stops.
3. 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.
4. Informal. To take into custody: The agents picked up six smugglers.
5. Slang. To make casual acquaintance with, usually in anticipation of sexual relations.
6. 1. To come upon and follow: The dog picked up the scent.
   2. To come upon and observe: picked up two submarines on sonar.
7. To continue after a break: Let's pick up the discussion after lunch.
8. Informal. To improve in condition or activity: Sales picked up last fall.
9. Slang. To prepare a sudden departure: She just picked up and left.

idioms:

pick and choose

1. To select with great care.

pick holes in

1. To seek and discover flaws or a flaw in: picked holes in the argument.

pick (one's) way

1. To find passage and make careful progress through it: picked her way down the slope.

pick (someone) to pieces

1. To criticize sharply.

pick up on Informal.

1. To take into the mind and understand, typically with speed: is quick to pick up on new computer skills.
2. 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).]

picker pick'er n.

pick² (pĭk)
n.

1. A tool for breaking hard surfaces, consisting of a curved bar sharpened at both ends and fitted to a long handle.
2. 1. Something, such as an ice pick, toothpick, or picklock, used for picking.
   2. A long-toothed comb, usually designed for use on curly hair.
   3. A pointed projection on the front of the blade of a figure skate.
3. Music. A plectrum.

[Middle English pik, variant of pike, sharp point. See pike⁵.]

pick³ (pĭk)
n.

1. A weft thread in weaving.
2. A passage or throw of the shuttle in a loom.

tr.v., picked, pick·ing, picks.

1. To throw (a shuttle) across a loom.
2. Archaic. To cast; pitch.

[Dialectal, from pick, to pitch, thrust, variant of PITCH².]

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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