Main Entry: ¹pick

Pronunciation: \ˈpik\

Function: verb

Etymology: Middle English piken, partly from Old English *pīcian (akin to Middle Dutch picken to prick); partly from Middle French piquer to prick — more at pike

Date: 14th century

transitive verb 1 : to pierce, penetrate, or break up with a pointed instrument <picked the hard clay>
2 a : to remove bit by bit <pick meat from bones> b : to remove covering or adhering matter from <pick the bones>
3 a : to gather by plucking <pick apples> b : choose, select <tried to pick the shortest route> c : to make (one's way) slowly and carefully <picked his way through the rubble>
4 a : pilfer, rob <pick pockets> b : to obtain useful information from by questioning —used in such phrases as pick the brains of
5 : provoke <pick a quarrel>
6 a : to dig into : probe <picking his teeth> b : to pluck (as a guitar) with a pick or with the fingers c : to loosen or pull apart with a sharp point <pick wool>
7 : to unlock with a device (as a wire) other than the key <pick a lock>intransitive verb 1 : to use or work with a pick
2 : to gather or harvest something by plucking
3 : pilfer —used in the phrase picking and stealing
4 : to eat sparingly or mincingly <picking listlessly at his dinner>

— pick and choose : to select with care and deliberation

— pick at : to criticize repeatedly especially for minor faults : nag

— pick on : to single out for criticism, teasing, or bullying <picked on smaller boys>; also : to single out for a particular purpose or for special attention