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 verb1: 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 of5: 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 verb1: to use or work with a pick2: to gather or harvest something by plucking3: pilfer —used in the phrase picking and stealing4: 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