picked; picking; picks
Definition of pick
(Entry 1 of 5)
1 : to pierce, penetrate, or break up with a pointed instrument
picked the hard clay
2a : to remove bit by bit
pick meat from bones
b : to remove covering or adhering matter from
pick the bones
3a : to gather by plucking
pick apples
c : to make (one's way) slowly and carefully
picked his way through the rubble
b : to obtain useful information from by questioning
—used in such phrases as pick the brains of
5 : provoke pick a quarrel
6a : to dig into : probe picking his teeth
b : to pluck (a stringed instrument, such 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 (such as a wire) other than the key
pick a lock
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 pick at pick on
: to select with care and deliberation
: to criticize repeatedly especially for minor faults : nag
: to single out for criticism, teasing, or bullying
picked on smaller boys also : to single out for a particular purpose or for special attention
pick
noun (1)Definition of pick (Entry 2 of 5)
1 : a blow or stroke with a pointed instrument
2a : 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
5 football : an intercepted forward pass : interception … McNabb had his worst game of the year. He threw two picks, fumbled twice, got sacked seven times.— Paul Zimmerman
pick
noun (2)Definition of pick (Entry 3 of 5)
1 : a heavy, usually long-handled iron or steel tool pointed at one or both ends — compare mattock
2a : 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
pick
verb (2)picked; picking; picks
Definition of pick (Entry 4 of 5)
2 : to throw (a shuttle) across the loom
pick
noun (3)Definition of pick (Entry 5 of 5)
1 dialectal, England
a : the act of pitching or throwing
b : something thrown
2a : a throw of the shuttle
b : a filling thread
Keep scrolling for more
Keep scrolling for more
Keep scrolling for more
Test Your Vocabulary
Words of Snow and Ice Quiz
- Which of the following refers to thin, bending ice, or to the act of running over such ice?

Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.
TAKE THE QUIZ
Anagram puzzles meet word search.
TAKE THE QUIZLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridgedWords at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games
Words of Snow and Ice Quiz
A selection of words from the chillier parts of t...
Take the quizName that Thing: Toys and Games Edition
It's all fun and games until someone beats your h...
Take the quizTrue or False?
Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something a...
Take the quizSCRABBLE® Sprint
SCRABBLE® fans, sharpen your skills!
Play the game
Share pick
Time Traveler for pick
The first known use of pick was in the 14th century
See more words from the same century