pick up

1a :  to take hold of and lift upb :  to gather together :  collect picked up all the piecesc :  to clean up :  tidy

2 :  to take (passengers or freight) into a vehicle

3a :  to acquire casually or by chance picked up a valuable antique at an auctionb :  to acquire by study or experience :  learn picking up a great deal of knowledge in the process — Robert Schleicherc :  to obtain especially by payment :  buy picked up some groceriesd :  to acquire (a player) especially from another team through a trade or by financial recompensee :  to accept for the purpose of paying offered to pick up the tabf :  to come down with :  catch picked up a coldg :  gain, earn picked up a few yards on the last play picked up her first victory

4a :  to enter informally into conversation or companionship with (a previously unknown person) had a brief affair with a girl he picked up in a barb :  to take into custody the police picked up the fugitive

5a :  to catch sight of :  perceive picked up the harbor lightsb :  to come to and follow picked up the outlaw's trailc :  to bring within range of sight or hearing pick up distant radio signalsd :  understand, catch didn't pick up the hint

6a :  reviveb :  increase

7 :  to resume after a break :  continue pick up the discussion tomorrow

8 :  to assume responsibility for guarding (an opponent) in an athletic contest