Definition of pick in English English dictionary
- A tool used for digging; a pickaxe
- A good defensive play by an infielder
- To decide between options
I'll pick the one with the nicest name.
- A comb with long widely spaced teeth, for use with tightly curled hair
- A tool used for strumming the strings of a guitar; a plectrum
- To recognise the type of ball being bowled by a bowler by studying the position of the hand and arm as the ball is released
He didn't pick the googly, and was bowled.
- A screen
- An interception
- To harvest a fruit or vegetable for consumption by removing it from the plant to which it is attached; to harvest an entire plant by removing it from the ground
It's time to pick the tomatoes.
- An offensive tactic in which a player stands so as to block a defender from reaching a teammate
- To pluck the individual strings of a musical instrument or to play such an instrument
He picked his nose.
- Short for pick-off
- A tool for unlocking a lock without the original key; a lock pick, picklock
- A choice
- To grasp and pull with the fingers or fingernails
Don't pick at that scab.
- a basketball maneuver; obstructing an opponent with one's body; "he was called for setting an illegal pick" a heavy iron tool with a wooden handle and a curved head that is pointed on both ends; "they used picks and sledges to break the rocks" a thin sharp implement used for picking; "he used a pick to clean dirt out of the cracks" a small thin device (of metal or plastic or ivory) used to pluck a stringed instrument remove in small bits; "pick meat from a bone" select carefully from a group; "She finally picked her successor"; "He picked his way carefully" look for and gather; "pick mushrooms"; "pick flowers" attack with or as if with a pickaxe of ice or rocky ground, for example; "Pick open the ice" provoke; "pick a fight or a quarrel" pilfer or rob; "pick pockets
- {v} to choose, gather, separate, clean, strike pull, rob, open, eat slowly or a very little
- {n} a pustule, scab, mark, dint
- a heavy iron tool with a wooden handle and a curved head that is pointed on both ends; "they used picks and sledges to break the rocks"
- remove unwanted substances from, such as feathers or pits; "Clean the turkey"
- eat intermittently; take small bites of; "He pieced at the sandwich all morning"; "She never eats a full meal--she just nibbles"
- The blow which drives the shuttle, the rate of speed of a loom being reckoned as so many picks per minute; hence, in describing the fineness of a fabric, a weft thread; as, so many picks to an inch
- Refers to selecting an atom, molecule, or similar object from the screen (e g , you pick an atom by placing the cursor over its screen image and pressing the right mouse button)
- the act of choosing or selecting; "your choice of colors was unfortunate"; "you can take your pick"
- Multi-user operating system integrated with a dictionary-driven relational database
- If you pick your nose or teeth, you remove substances from inside your nose or between your teeth. Edgar, don't pick your nose, dear
- When you pick flowers, fruit, or leaves, you break them off the plant or tree and collect them. She used to pick flowers in the Cromwell Road
- A shot used to turn the opponent's backspin into topspin, effected by using a hitting motion parallel to the table top with an open paddle
- A violation that occurs when a defensive player can't keep with there opponent because another player blocks their path Or the defender is too old and fat to keep up with you!
- the yarn woven across the warp yarn in weaving
- pay for something; "pick up the tab"; "pick up the burden of high-interest mortgages"; "foot the bill"
- remove in small bits; "pick meat from a bone"
- a thin sharp implement used for picking; "he used a pick to clean dirt out of the cracks"
- This term describes almost ANY object used to cause the strings to sound I've seen people use anything from fingers, to plastic picks, to coins, to drumsticks (!) to strike their strings
- look for and gather; "pick mushrooms"; "pick flowers"
- If you pick a fight or quarrel with someone, you deliberately cause one. He picked a fight with a waiter and landed in jail
- If you pick your way across an area, you walk across it very carefully in order to avoid obstacles or dangerous things. The girls were afraid of snakes and picked their way along with extreme caution
- an offensive maneuver in which a stationary player attempts to block the path of a defender with his body
- This feature enables users to highlight a word in text and look up that word within the product
- To remove something from with a pointed instrument, with the fingers, or with the teeth; as, to pick the teeth; to pick a bone; to pick a goose; to pick a pocket
- a small thin device (of metal or plastic or ivory) used to pluck a stringed instrument
- a small thin device (of metal or plastic or ivory) used to pluck a stringed instrument remove in small bits; "pick meat from a bone"
- If you pick and choose, you carefully choose only things that you really want and reject the others. We, the patients, cannot pick and choose our doctors
- To do anything nicely or carefully, or by attending to small things; to select something with care
- a single sideways movement of a shuttle across the shed formed in the loom by movements in the harnesses A pick is also one thread of the filling in weaving
- pull lightly but sharply with a plucking motion; "he plucked the strings of his mandolin"
- If you have your pick of a group of things, you are able to choose any of them that you want. Here is an actress who could have her pick of any part
- {i} hoe, tool used to spread soil; pickax, to used to break up soil; choice, selection; plectrum, small piece of metal or plastic with which a stringed instrument may be played
- A weft yarn How many picks per inch in that fabric?
- To choose; to select; to separate as choice or desirable; to cull; as, to pick one's company; to pick one's way; often with out
- A yarn running in the fill direction
- an intentional or unintentional block (like basketball) where a player gets between you and the player you are covering
- provoke; "pick a fight or a quarrel"
- That which is picked in, as with a pointed pencil, to correct an unevenness in a picture
- To knock down only the front pin from a spare leave (cherry, chop)
- A comb with long teeth, for use with tightly curled hair
- to gather from here and there; to collect; to bring together; as, to pick rags; often with up; as, to pick up a ball or stones; to pick up information
- An offensive maneuver in which a stationary player attempts to block the path of a defender guarding another offensive player
- To remove a fruit or plant for consumption
- A tool used for digging
- To eat slowly, sparingly, or by morsels; to nibble
- If you pick a particular person or thing, you choose that one. Mr Nowell had picked ten people to interview for six sales jobs in London I had deliberately picked a city with a tropical climate
- select carefully from a group; "She finally picked her successor"; "He picked his way carefully"
- A pick is the same as a pickaxe. see also hand-pick, ice pick
- also, a pointed hammer used for dressing millstones
- If you are told to take your pick, you can choose any one that you like from a group of things. Accountants can take their pick of company cars
- a tool used for strumming the strings of a guitar
- If someone such as a thief picks a lock, they open it without a key, for example by using a piece of wire. He picked each lock deftly, and rifled the papers within each drawer
- When an offensive player frees a teammate for a shot by establishing a stationary position that prevents a defensive player from guarding the shooter If the player who is "setting a pick" is not stationary and contact is made with a defender, it is an offensive foul and his team loses possession of the ball Also: screen
- Creating a screen to impede a defender and free another offensive player for a shot attempt
- pick 'n' mix
- a selection of different articles (such as sweets), arranged in trays, that can be chosen in any combination and paid for by weight or number
- pick and place
- Of or pertaining to a robot whose main purpose is to pick up objects and place them somewhere else
Many assembly lines use pick and place robots to do repetitive tasks such as placing small components onto circuit boards..
- pick and roll
- an offensive play in which a player stops to block a defender for a teammate handling the ball and then slips behind the defender to accept a pass
- pick apart
- to defeat crushingly
- pick apart
- to criticise (especially small details)
- pick apart
- to review or analyse in great detail
- pick corners
- To choose a preference (as in predicting which boxer will win a match)
- pick of the litter
- The best person or item in a group
Of the books I read this summer, A Tale of Two Cities was the pick of the litter.
- pick off
- An instance of throwing out a batter leading off base
The final out of the game was determined by a pick off.
- pick off
- Successfully picking off a runner
The pitcher picked off the runner to get an out.
- pick off
- An attempt to throw out a runner leading off a base
The pitcher attempted to pick off the runner at first, but he was safe.
- pick on
- To bully, harass or make fun of a victim; to bother or harass
Hey! Quit picking on your brother.
- pick one's nose
- To insert a finger or other object into one's nostril to remove obstructions, especially dried mucus
You can pick your friends; you can pick your nose; but you can't pick your friends' noses.
- pick out
- to distinguish
The young birds cry out for food, and the parents returning from the sea manage to pick out their own amid a mass of look-alikes.
- pick out
- to select
Very often husbands would patronise my boutique and pick out something for the little lady and, in passing, pick out something for themselves.
- pick out
- to remove by picking
Madame Defarge herself picked out the pattern on her sleeve with her toothpick, and saw and heard something inaudible and invisible a long way off.
- pick out
- to detect using one's senses (sight, smell, hearing, touch, taste)
And as I sat there brooding on the old, unknown world, I thought of Gatsby's wonder when he first picked out the green light at the end of Daisy's dock.
- pick out
- to send a long pass or cross to
Ameobi skipped away down the left in the 39th minute and tried to pick out Shearer with a cross but his delivery was cut out by goalkeeper Jussi J.
- pick out of a hat
- To determine by chance
- pick out of a hat
- To substitute a guess for unavailable data
That number was just picked out of a hat.
- pick six
- An interception, or pick, returned for a touchdown, for six points
- pick sixes
- plural form of pick six
- pick someone's brain
- To seek information from someone knowledgeable; to ask questions of someone
After I spent a couple of hours picking his brain, his scheme started to make sense.
- pick up
- To meet and seduce somebody for romantic purposes, especially in a social situation
She could tell he intended to pick up on her.
- pick up
- To receive (a radio signal or the like)
With the new antenna, I can pick up stations all the way from Omaha.
- pick up
- To notice, detect or discern, often used with "on"
Did you pick up on his nervousness?.
- pick up
- To learn, to grasp; to begin to understand
It looks complicated, but you'll soon pick it up.
- pick up
- To lift; to grasp and raise
When you pick up the bag, make sure to support the bottom.
- pick up
- To reduce the despondency of
they pick me up when I'm feeling blue.
- pick up
- To take control (physically) of something
- pick up
- To collect an object, especially in passing
Can you pick up a pint of milk on your way home?.
- pick up
- To collect a passenger
I'll pick you up outside the library.
- pick up
- To mark, to defend against an opposition player by following them closely
- pick up
- The act of obtaining something or someone (usually onto a vehicle). The time the act occurs
- pick up
- To improve, increase, or speed up
Prices seem to be picking up again.
- pick up
- To point out (a person's behaviour, habits, or actions) in a critical manner
She's always picking me up on my grammar.
- pick up
- To answer a telephone. See pick up the phone
I'm calling him, but he just isn't picking up!.
- pick up
- To restart or resume
Let's pick up where we left off yesterday.
- pick up
- To collect and detain (a suspect)
The cops have picked up the man they were looking for.
- pick up
- A pickup truck
- pick up
- To clean up; to return to an organized state
You're lucky, said Marla. My mother makes me pick up my room every single day..
- pick up
- An instance of approaching someone and engaging in romantic flirtation and courting with the intent to pursue romance, a date, or a sexual encounter. See also pick-up line, pick-up joint, pickup artist
Hey, thanks for the drink, but if this is a pick up, I'm not interested.
- pick up
- To pay for
The company will pick up lunch with customers for sales calls.
- pick up
- An impromptu athletic game
At lunch we had a game of pick up hockey.
- pick up line
- An utterance whose aim is to seduce a potential partner
- pick up stitches
- stitches that were added to the row, during knitting
- pick up stitches
- to add ("pick up") stitches to the knitting needle that were previously bound off, or that belong to the selvage, during the process of knitting or entrelac
- pick up the phone
- To pick up the receiver of a telephone
- pick up the phone
- To answer an incoming telephone call
- pick up the tab
- to accept a charge and pay for it, especially at a bar or restaurant
- pick up truck
- Alternative spelling of pickup truck
- pick up trucks
- plural form of pick up truck an alternative spelling of pick-up truck
- pick-me-up
- a drink, especially an alcoholic one, taken as a stimulant or sometimes as a hangover cure; a restorative, tonic or bracer
- pick-up
- Attributive form of pick up
pick-up line.
- pick-up joint
- a place, such as a nightclub, where people congregate in order to find a partner
- pick-up line
- A vocal introduction intended to garner sexual interest from a stranger
Freddie has a new pick-up line for every girl he meets in the bar, but he always goes home alone.
- pick something up off the street
- (Ev ile ilgili) Learn something naturally outside from the people and their life
- pick up steam
- Start to be much more effective or successful
- pick someone up
- 1. go somewhere to collect someone. 2.casually strike up a relationship with someone as a sexual overture. 3. return to a point or remark made by someone in order to criticize it
- pick something up
- resume something
- pick something up
- obtain, acquire, or learn something. catch an illness or infection
- pick something up
- collect something that has been left elsewhere
- pick something up
- tidy a room or building
- pick up on
- (deyim) Adopt as one's own, take up
- pick up on
- (deyim) a.) Undetrstand, appreciate. b.) Become aware of, notice
- pick up the pace
- Go a little faster, step on it. "We're walking rather slowly. Can we pick up the pace?"
- pick up the slack
- (deyim) Improve the use of resources to avoid an undesirable lull in business
- pick-up line
- A pick-up line is intended to be short and easy method of "picking up" (i.e., engaging) another person for sex, romance,or dating. They are usually used to initiate a conversation (an opener). The line is usually brief, and is intended to display wit and arousal to its targeted listener. However, the very nature of pick-up lines, short and often crude, means that there is a low chance of success when they are used
- picking
- Income or other gains, especially if obtained in a unscrupulous or objectionable manner
He liked the pickings which the job brought him much better than the job itself.
- picking
- Items remaining after others have selected the best; scraps, as of food
Gilbert wandered through . . .the haunts of ravenous dogs and homeless cats that kept themselves alive on the choice pickings of the city's garbage.
- picking
- A gathering to pick fruit
We went to a strawberry picking last June.
- picking
- Present participle of pick
- picked
- {a} sharp at the end, pointed
- Pick out
- excerp
- pick something up
- (also pick up on) refer to or develop a point or topic mentioned earlier. become aware of or sensitive to something
- pick something up
- detect or receive a signal or sound
- A pick
- pike
- pick at
- pluck or pull at with the fingers; "She picked nervously at the buttons of her blouse"
- pick at
- express a negative opinion of; "She disparaged her student's efforts"
- pick at
- eat like a bird; "The anorexic girl just picks at her food"
- pick at
- pluck or pull at with the fingers; "She picked nervously at the buttons of her blouse
- pick at
- eat slowly, eat very little; search for flaws, criticize
- pick at
- If you pick at the food that you are eating, you eat only very small amounts of it. Sarah picked at a plate of cheese for supper, but she wasn't really hungry
- pick me up
- {i} drink that energizes and invigorates (such as coffee or an alcoholic drink)
- pick off
- When a pitcher or catcher throws to any occupied base in an attempt to put out the runner taking a lead near the base The runner must be tagged before getting back to the base in order to be called out If the runner is tagged before getting back to the base, he or she has been "picked off "
- pick off
- pluck, remove; destroy one after the other
- pick off
- An attempt by the pitcher to get a base runner out by throwing to the base from the stretch position
- pick off
- A condition in which coating sticks to the shell, which is usually caused by an air bubble in the coating or by tacky color pulling off some of the coating
- pick off
- If someone picks off people or aircraft, they shoot them down one by one, aiming carefully at them from a distance. Both groups on either side are just picking off innocent bystanders Any decent shot with telescopic sights could pick us off at random
- pick off
- pull or pull out sharply; "pluck the flowers off the bush"
- pick off
- to tag out a runner who is leading off the base
- pick off
- shoot one by one
- pick on
- If someone picks on a particular person or thing, they choose them, for example for special attention or treatment. When you have made up your mind, pick on a day when you will not be under much stress = pick
- pick on
- If someone picks on you, they repeatedly criticize you unfairly or treat you unkindly. Bullies pick on younger children
- pick on
- harass, tease, annoy; nag, criticize; choose
- pick out
- choose
I need to choose a costume for Purim.
- I need to pick out a Purim costume.
- pick out
- detect with the senses; "The fleeing convicts were picked out of the darkness by the watchful prison guards"; "I can't make out the faces in this photograph"
- pick out
- If part of something is picked out in a particular colour, it is painted in that colour so that it can be seen clearly beside the other parts. The name is picked out in gold letters over the shop-front. = highlight
- pick out
- pick out, select, or choose from a number of alternatives; "Take any one of these cards"; "Choose a good husband for your daughter"; "She selected a pair of shoes from among the dozen the salesgirl had shown her"
- pick out
- If you pick out someone or something, you recognize them when it is difficult to see them, for example because they are among a large group. The detective-constable picked out the words with difficulty Steven describes himself as `a regular guy -- you couldn't pick me out of a crowd'
- pick out
- If you pick out someone or something, you choose them from a group of people or things. I have been picked out to represent the whole team There are so many great newscasters it's difficult to pick one out. = select
- pick over
- If you pick over a quantity of things, you examine them carefully, for example to reject the ones you do not want. Pick over the fruit and pile on top of the cream
- pick over
- separate or remove; "The customer picked over the selection"
- pick over
- examine meticulously, check closely
- pick up
- eat by pecking at, like a bird
- pick up
- If you pick someone up on something that they have said or done, you mention it and tell them that you think it is wrong. if I may pick you up on that point see also pick-up
- pick up
- lift out or reflect from a background; "The scarf picks up the color of the skirt"; "His eyes picked up his smile"
- pick up
- If trade or the economy of a country picks up, it improves. Industrial production is beginning to pick up
- pick up
- recieve (perceptual input); "pick up a signal"
- pick up
- Refers to the adherence of workpiece material to the saw
- pick up
- When you pick yourself up after you have fallen or been knocked down, you stand up rather slowly. Anthony picked himself up and set off along the track
- pick up
- take up by hand; "He picked up the book and started to read"
- pick up
- meet someone for sexual purposes; "he always tries to pick up girls in bars
- pick up
- (1) (of a card) capture during the play
- pick up
- If someone picks up a point or topic that has already been mentioned, or if they pick up on it, they refer to it or develop it. Can I just pick up that gentleman's point? I'll pick up on what I said a couple of minutes ago
- pick up
- gather or collect; "You can get the results on Monday"; "She picked up the children at the day care center"; "They pick up our trash twice a week"
- pick up
- take into custody; "the police nabbed the suspected criminals"
- pick up
- When you pick something up, you lift it up. He picked his cap up from the floor and stuck it back on his head Ridley picked up a pencil and fiddled with it
- pick up
- perceive with the senses quickly, suddenly, or momentarily; "I caught the aroma of coffee"; "He caught the allusion in her glance"; "ears open to catch every sound"; "The dog picked up the scent"; "Catch a glimpse"
- pick up
- To pick up a carrier is when the 2 modems recognize each other's signals over a phone line After this point the two computers can communicate
- pick up
- If you pick up an illness, you get it from somewhere or something. They've picked up a really nasty infection from something they've eaten. = catch
- pick up
- If someone is picked up by the police, they are arrested and taken to a police station. Rawlings had been picked up by police at his office The police picked him up within the hour
- pick up
- {f} grasp and lift; gather, obtain; hurry up, gain speed; improve; straighten, tidy (Colloquial); approach someone with an offer of romantic involvement (Informal); resume after an intermission; buy, get (e.g.: "We are out of milk, on your way home from work can you pick up a carton of milk?")
- pick up
- meet someone for sexual purposes; "he always tries to pick up girls in bars"
- pick up
- get in addition, as an increase; "The candidate picked up thousands of votes after his visit to the nursing home"
- pick up
- get better; "Her performance in school picked up"
- pick up
- a pick up is where a player picks up a new tile A tile is either picked from the wall or, the player may pick the last tile discarded by another player, provided that they can form a meld using it A player may jump in at any point during the game to pick up the last tile dicarded This is done by the player declaring the name of the meld they wish to form using the tile Restrictions exist on forming chows with discards A player may only use a discard tile to form a chow if the tile was discarded by their play-order predecessor In the event that two players call to form a meld with the same discard tile, a Kong has precedence over a Pung, which in turn has precedence over a Chow
- pick up
- take and lift upward recieve (perceptual input); "pick up a signal"
- pick up
- gain or regain energy; "I picked up after a nap"
- pick up
- If you pick up someone you do not know, you talk to them and try to start a sexual relationship with them. He had picked her up at a nightclub on Kallari Street, where she worked as a singer
- pick up
- take and lift upward
- pick up
- The lifting of the rod with the casting hand and arm It starts the lift of the leader off the water's surface This is the first step of the traditional pick up lay down cast
- pick up
- give a passenger or a hitchhiker a lift; "We picked up a hitchhiker on the highway"
- pick up
- If you pick up something, such as a feature or a pattern, you discover or identify it. Consumers in Europe are slow to pick up trends in the use of information technology
- pick up
- buy casually or spontaneously; "I picked up some food for a snack"
- pick up
- When a vehicle picks up speed, it begins to move more quickly. Brian pulled away slowly, but picked up speed. = accelerate
- pick up
- To pick up the dice, thereby ending the player's turn
- pick up
- If you pick up something such as a skill or an idea, you acquire it without effort over a period of time. Where did you pick up your English?
- pick up
- When you pick up someone or something that is waiting to be collected, you go to the place where they are and take them away, often in a car. She went over to her parents' house to pick up some clean clothes I picked her up at Covent Garden to take her to lunch with my mother
- pick up
- get to know or become aware of, usually accidentally; "I learned that she has two grown-up children"; "I see that you have been promoted"
- pick up
- When you pick up the pieces after a disaster, you do what you can to get the situation back to normal again. Do we try and prevent problems or do we try and pick up the pieces afterwards?
- pick up
- Nothing more than talking to a girl and finding out her name "Meee!* last night we picked up All kinds* of girls at L'action" (popular club in St-Leonard) *see: Meee *see: All kinds
- pick up
- If a piece of equipment, for example a radio or a microphone, picks up a signal or sound, it receives it or detects it. We can pick up Italian television
- pick up
- fill with high spirits; fill with optimism; "Music can uplift your spirits"
- pick up
- Starting a scene from a place other than the beginning
- pick up line
- premeditated conversation starter intended to romantically interest someone
- picked
- past of pick
- picked
- Pointed: a picked cap. picked people have been specially chosen because they are very suitable for a particular job handpicked
- picked
- {s} chosen, selected
- picked
- Pointed; sharp