Definition of pickup
(Entry 1 of 3)
1 : one that is picked up: such as
a : a hitchhiker who is given a ride
b : a temporary chance acquaintance
c : a player acquired from another team
2 : the act or process of picking up: such as
a : a revival of business activity
b : acceleration
c : the act or technique of making the acquaintance of a previously unknown person especially for amorous purposes
3 : the conversion of mechanical movements into electrical impulses in the reproduction of sound also : a device (as on an electric guitar) for making such conversion
4a : the reception of sound or an image into a radio or television transmitting apparatus for conversion into electrical signals
b : a device (such as a microphone or a television camera) for converting sound or the image of a scene into electrical signals
5 : a light truck having an enclosed cab and an open body with low sides and tailgate
— called also pickup truck
6 : a pickup game
playing pickup
pickup
adjectiveDefinition of pickup (Entry 2 of 3)
: utilizing or comprising local or available personnel especially without formal organization
a pickup basketball game a pickup band
pick up
verbpicked up; picking up; picks up
Definition of pick up (Entry 3 of 3)
1a : to take hold of and lift up
b : to gather together : collect picked up all the pieces
c : 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 auction
b : to acquire by study or experience : learn picking up a great deal of knowledge in the process— Robert Schleicher
c : to obtain especially by payment : buy picked up some groceries
d : to acquire (a player) especially from another team through a trade or by financial recompense
e : to accept for the purpose of paying
offered to pick up the tab
f : to come down with : catch picked up a cold
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 bar
b : to take into custody
the police picked up the fugitive
5a : to catch sight of : perceive picked up the harbor lights
b : to come to and follow
picked up the outlaw's trail
c : to bring within range of sight or hearing
pick up distant radio signals
d : understand, catch didn't pick up the hint
7 : to resume after a break : continue pick up the discussion tomorrow
8 : to assume responsibility for guarding (an opponent) in an athletic contest
9 : to provide needed support or assistance to (someone who has faltered or failed, such as a teammate who has made an error) in a collaborative effort
… Burns allowed only five hits and did not issue a walk. She also picked up her teammates after several fielding errors.— John Knebels We have faith. We don't panic. Even in all these one-run ballgames, we have trust in each other that we're going to pull it out. We pick each other up. On days we're not pitching it great, our offense gets going and vice versa.— Marco Gonzales
1 : to recover or increase speed, vigor, or activity : improve after the strike, business picked up the wind began to pick up
2 : to put things in order
was always picking up after her
3 : to pack up one's belongings
couldn't just pick up and leave
pick up on
1a : understand, appreciate
b : to become aware of : notice
2 : to adopt as one's own : take up
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Share pickup
Time Traveler for pickup
The first known use of pickup was in the 14th century
See more words from the same century