pick

1 of 5

verb (1)

ˈpik 

picked; picking; picks

transitive verb

1

: to pierce, penetrate, or break up with a pointed instrument

picked the hard clay

2

a

: to remove bit by bit

pick meat from bones

b

: to remove covering or adhering matter from

pick the bones

3

a

: 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

4

a

: 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

6

a

: 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

2 of 5

noun (1)

1

: a blow or stroke with a pointed instrument

2

a

: 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

3 of 5

noun (2)

1

: a heavy, usually long-handled iron or steel tool pointed at one or both ends compare mattock

2

a

: 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

Illustration of pick

• pick 2c

pick

4 of 5

verb (2)

picked; picking; picks

transitive verb

1

chiefly dialectal : to throw or thrust with effort : hurl

2

: to throw (a shuttle) across the loom

pick

5 of 5

noun (3)

1

dialectal, England

a

: the act of pitching or throwing

b

: something thrown

2

a

: a throw of the shuttle

b

: a filling thread

Phrases

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

Synonyms

Verb (1)

• gather
• harvest
• reap

Noun (1)

• bet
• choice
• chosen
• selection

Examples of pick in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

For prostate stimulation, Lee says a pick with a curved shaft and bulbous head will hit the right spot. —Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 19 Nov. 2023

Check out my top picks for personal data removal services 8. —Kurt Knutsson, Fox News, 19 Nov. 2023

Editor’s picks The Crown villainizing the media also feels strategic. —Louis Staples, Rolling Stone, 18 Nov. 2023

Keep scrolling for other awesome denim jacket options available at Amazon, including a few picks from familiar denim brands like Wrangler and Levi’s that are starting at $40. —Amber Love Bond, Travel + Leisure, 18 Nov. 2023

The former Rancho Cucamonga High standout does have a quality rookie to target — Tank Dell, a third-round pick who has 35 receptions for 510 yards and five touchdowns. —Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 18 Nov. 2023

Black Friday isn’t technically until next week, but most stores have already dropped droves of deals — and some coveted picks from best-selling brands are already selling out. —Claire Harmeyer, Peoplemag, 18 Nov. 2023

Price at time of publication: $9 Hot Wheels Color Shifters 5-Car Pack View On Amazon View On Walmart Easy to stash in a stocking, Hot Wheels are a classic gift and were also a pick from our survey. —Bridget Shirvell, Parents, 18 Nov. 2023

Mexico, China and the U.K. will all trot our their picks for the most influential men (and women) alongside the U.S. version. —Matt Donnelly, Variety, 16 Nov. 2023

Verb

Hoult was one of the actors who was reportedly in the running for the titular role; instead, Gunn — the co-chief of DC Studios and the writer-director of the film — picked Hoult to play Luthor, the industry titan with a bald head and an abiding fixation on bringing down the Last Son of Krypton. —Adam B. Vary, Variety, 20 Nov. 2023

The app’s 200,000 sellers can also pick items to be discounted on the shop, creating their own markdowns, which can be further subsidized by TikTok’s discounts. —Amanda Hoover, WIRED, 20 Nov. 2023

Later, my mule, Monica, deliberately picks her way along a path strewn with shards of millennia-old pottery. —Emma Pearson, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Nov. 2023

Advertisement Chargers Heated Brandon Staley gets defensive after Chargers can’t hold lead, lose to Packers Nov. 19, 2023 The moment was bitter and fitting for what has been an underwhelming season for the player the Chargers picked No. 21 overall. —Jeff Miller, Los Angeles Times, 20 Nov. 2023

Winship noted that Musk’s eagerness to pick legal fights is unusual for a CEO, but that there are other examples—typically involving those who operated their companies since the very early days. —Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, 20 Nov. 2023

Old Dominion similarly continued to have a lock on the group of the year award, picking it up for the sixth consecutive year. —Chris Willman, Variety, 8 Nov. 2023

When talks picked back up in early October with studio CEOs present, SAG brought in working actors to talk about their hardships, such as losing their health care if there is a long gap between seasons of a show. —Katie Kilkenny, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Nov. 2023

Choose from pillowy loaves to take home for later, or pick from the delicious rows of scones and danishes beckoning in the pastry case. —Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 8 Nov. 2023

See More

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

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

Phrases Containing pick

• bone to pick
• cherry-pick
• choose/pick sides
• pick-and-roll
• pick-and-shovel
• pick-and-mix
• pick a lock
• pick and choose
• pick a fight
• first pick
• number one pick
• ice pick
• pick one's way
• pick off
• pick-me-up
• pick a quarrel
• pick apart
• pick/choose your poison
• pick (something) clean
• pick someone's pocket
• pick someone's brain/brains
• pick (someone or something) to pieces/shreds
• pick-six
• pick over
• pick/step up the pace
• pick/take up the cudgels for
• pick up after (someone)
• pick/take up the gauntlet
• pick up
• pick/take up the slack
• pick up and leave/go
• pick up steam
• pick up speed/momentum
• pick up the tab/bill/check
• pick up the pace
• take one's pick
• the pick of the litter
• the pick of the bunch
• ear pick
• pick out
• pick up the tab
• pick oneself up
• pick up the pieces
• water pick
• pick up the threads
• pick up on
• pick at
• pick on
• pick the brains of
• pick nits

See More

• bone to pick
• cherry-pick
• choose/pick sides
• pick-and-roll
• pick-and-shovel
• pick-and-mix
• pick a lock
• pick and choose
• pick a fight
• first pick
• number one pick
• ice pick
• pick one's way
• pick off
• pick-me-up
• pick a quarrel
• pick apart
• pick/choose your poison
• pick (something) clean
• pick someone's pocket
• pick someone's brain/brains
• pick (someone or something) to pieces/shreds
• pick-six
• pick over
• pick/step up the pace
• pick/take up the cudgels for
• pick up after (someone)
• pick/take up the gauntlet
• pick up
• pick/take up the slack
• pick up and leave/go
• pick up steam
• pick up speed/momentum
• pick up the tab/bill/check
• pick up the pace
• take one's pick
• the pick of the litter
• the pick of the bunch
• ear pick
• pick out
• pick up the tab
• pick oneself up
• pick up the pieces
• water pick
• pick up the threads
• pick up on
• pick at
• pick on
• pick the brains of
• pick nits

See More

Kids Definition

pick

1 of 3 verb

ˈpik 

1

: to strike, pierce, or break up with a pointed tool

2

a

: to remove matter from bit by bit by or as if by plucking

picked the bone clean

b

: to gather by plucking

pick berries

c

: to pluck with a pick or with the fingers

pick a guitar

3

a

: select entry 1, choose

pick out a dress

b

: to make (one's way) slowly and carefully

picked their way through the rubble

4

: to steal or pilfer from

pick pockets

5

: to start (a fight) with someone else deliberately

6

: to dig at or into : probe

picking his teeth

7

: to eat sparingly or in a finicky manner

picked at her dinner

8

: to unlock without a key

pick a lock

picker noun

pick

2 of 3 noun

1

: a blow or stroke with a pointed instrument

2

a

: the act or opportunity of choosing : choice

take your pick

b

: the best or choicest one or portion

took only the pick of the crop

c

: one that is picked

his pick for vice president

pick

3 of 3 noun

1

: a heavy tool with a wooden handle and a blade pointed at one or both ends used especially to loosen or break up soil or rock

2

: a slender pointed instrument

ice pick

3

: a small thin piece of metal or plastic used to pluck a stringed instrument

4

: a comb with long widely spaced teeth used in grooming hair

Etymology

Verb

Middle English piken "to pierce, pick," from Old English pīcian (same meaning) and from early French piquer "to prick" — related to pike entry 3

Noun

Middle English pik "a pick for digging"