pick

¹pick

verb \ˈpik\

Definition of PICK

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

Origin of PICK

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

First Known Use: 14th century

²pick

noun

Definition of PICK

1

: a blow or stroke with a pointed instrument

2

a : the act or privilege of choosing or selecting : choice <take your pick>

b : the best or choicest one <the pick of the herd>

c : one that is picked <his pick for vice president>

3

: the portion of a crop gathered at one time <the first pick of peaches>

4

: a screen in basketball

First Known Use of PICK

15th century

³pick

noun

Definition of PICK

1

: a heavy wooden-handled iron or steel tool pointed at one or both ends — compare mattock

2

a : toothpick

b : picklock

c : a small thin piece (as of plastic or metal) used to pluck the strings of a stringed instrument

3

: one of the points on the forepart of the blade of a skate used in figure skating

4

: a comb with long widely spaced teeth used to give height to a hairstyle

Illustration of PICK

Origin of PICK

Middle English pik

First Known Use: 14th century

⁴pick

transitive verb

Definition of PICK

1

chiefly dialect : to throw or thrust with effort : hurl

2

: to throw (a shuttle) across the loom

Origin of PICK

Middle English pykken to pitch (a tent); akin to Middle English picchen to pitch

First Known Use: 1523

⁵pick

noun

Definition of PICK

1

dialect English

a : the act of pitching or throwing

b : something thrown

2

a : a throw of the shuttle

b : a filling thread

First Known Use of PICK

1627