Main Entry: pick up

Function: verb

Date: 14th century

transitive verb

1 a : to take hold of and lift up b : to gather together : collect <picked up all the pieces> c : to clean up : tidy
2 : to take (passengers or freight) into a vehicle
3 a : to acquire casually or by chance <picked up a valuable antique at an auction> b : to acquire by study or experience : learn <picking up a great deal of knowledge in the process — Robert Schleicher> c : to obtain especially by payment : buy <picked up some groceries> d : to acquire (a player) especially from another team through a trade or by financial recompense e : to accept for the purpose of paying <offered to pick up the tab> f : to come down with : catch <picked up a cold> g : gain, earn <picked up a few yards on the last play> <picked up her first victory>
4 a : to enter informally into conversation or companionship with (a previously unknown person) <had a brief affair with a girl he picked up in a bar> b : to take into custody <the police picked up the fugitive>
5 a : to catch sight of : perceive <picked up the harbor lights> b : to come to and follow <picked up the outlaw's trail> c : to bring within range of sight or hearing <pick up distant radio signals> d : understand, catch <didn't pick up the hint>
6 a : revive b : increase
7 : to resume after a break : continue <pick up the discussion tomorrow>
8 : to assume responsibility for guarding (an opponent) in an athletic contestintransitive verb 1 : to recover or increase speed, vigor, or activity : improve <after the strike, business picked up> <the wind began to pick up>
2 : to put things in order <was always picking up after her>
3 : to pack up one's belongings <couldn't just pick up and leave>

— pick up on 1 a : understand, appreciate b : to become aware of : notice
2 : to adopt as one's own : take up