pick

verb (1)

Save Word

\ ˈpik

picked; picking; picks

Definition of pick

(Entry 1 of 5)

transitive verb

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

b : choose, select tried to pick the shortest route

c : to make (one's way) slowly and carefully picked his way through the rubble

4a : 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

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

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

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)

transitive verb

1 chiefly dialectal : to throw or thrust with effort : hurl

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

First Known Use of pick

Verb (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (3)

1627, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

History and Etymology for pick

Verb (1)

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

Noun (2)

Middle English pik

Verb (2)

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

Keep scrolling for more