picnic

¹pic·nic

noun, often attributive \ˈpik-(ˌ)nik\

Definition of PICNIC

1

: an excursion or outing with food usually provided by members of the group and eaten in the open; also : the food provided for a picnic

2

a : a pleasant or amusingly carefree experience <I don't expect being married to be a picnic — Josephine Pinckney>

b : an easy task or feat

3

: a shoulder of pork with much of the butt removed

— pic·nic·ky \-(ˌ)ni-kē\ adjective

Examples of PICNIC

1. We decided to have a picnic on the beach.
2. We ate our picnic by the lake.
3. The annual school picnic is this weekend.
4. This winter is a picnic compared with last year's.

Origin of PICNIC

German or French; German Picknick, from French pique-nique

First Known Use: 1826

Related to PICNIC

Synonyms

easy street, fun and games, hog heaven, beer and skittles

Antonyms

bear, beast, chore, headache, horror show, killer, labor, murder, pain, sticky wicket, stinker [slang]

Related Words

primrose path; heaven, paradise, utopia; American dream, good life; ease, relaxation, rest

Near Antonyms

agony, hell, horror, misery, murder, nightmare, torment, torture

Other Food Terms

Reuben, calamari, chuck, curry, edamame, foie gras, hummus, leaven, nonpareil, peel

²picnic

intransitive verb

pic·nickedpic·nick·ing

Definition of PICNIC

: to go on a picnic : eat in picnic fashion

— pic·nick·er noun

Examples of PICNIC

1. We picnicked in the park.

First Known Use of PICNIC

1842

Other Food Terms

Reuben, calamari, chuck, curry, edamame, foie gras, hummus, leaven, nonpareil, peel