pick
noun
Definitions of pick noun
choice
- Uncountable
The act of choosing or selecting something.
You get first pick of the tea.
She had the first pick among all the candidates.
Please have your pick from these gifts.
tool
- Countable
A heavy tool with a pointed end, used for breaking hard ground or rocks.
They used picks and shovels to excavate the foundation.
Miners use picks to extract minerals.
We'll need a pick and a shovel for the digging.
- Countable
A pointed tool, especially a small pointed tool for cleaning teeth.
I need a toothpick to remove the food from between my teeth.
The restaurant provided toothpicks for the customers.
Be careful when using a toothpick, so you don't hurt your gums.
music
- Countable
A small flat piece of plastic or similar material used to pluck the strings of a musical instrument.
The guitarist used a pick to play.
She strummed the guitar rapidly with a pick.
He dropped his pick on the floor.
Phrases of pick noun
- have your pick
To have a wide range of options available from which to choose.
• The restaurant has a vast menu, so you can have your pick of dishes.
- take your pick
To select one or more items from a range of available options.
• All these books are interesting; take your pick.
verb
Definitions of pick verb
choose
- B1Transitive
To choose or select from a group of things.
Pick a person in charge from the list.
She was picked to be the team leader.
I need to pick one from these options.
remove
- B1TransitiveIntransitive
To remove small pieces or items from something, especially with the fingers.
She picked a few loose threads from her coat.
The child kept picking at the wound on his arm.
He keeps picking his nose.
- B1Transitive
To harvest flowers, fruits or other crops from plants.
The farmers pick the fruit every morning.
She picked some flowers from the garden.
Machines are picking the crops in the field.
play
- Transitive
To pluck a stringed instrument to produce a note.
He gently picked the strings of his guitar.
She picked the harp strings with her fingers.
The musician began to pick his mandolin.
Phrases of pick verb
- pick and choose
To select only some items from a range of available options.
• The company is in a position to pick and choose from a large pool of applicants.
Idioms
- pick 'n' mix
A system in a shop where customers can choose a selection of various small items, particularly sweets.
• The children loved choosing their own pick 'n' mix at the sweet shop.
- pick holes in something
To criticize something by finding small or unimportant faults; to nitpick.
• He always likes to pick holes in my work, even the smallest details.
- pick yourself up off the floor
to recover from a setback or disappointment and make an effort to improve one's situation
• After losing his job, it took him some time to pick himself up off the floor and start looking for new work.
- pick someone's brains
To seek information or advice from someone with extensive knowledge on a particular subject.
• I need to brainstorm some interior design ideas, whose brain should I pick?
- pick someone's pocket
To steal small items, particularly money, from someone's pockets or bags.
• The pickpocket tried to pick the tourist's pocket in the crowded market.
- pick a fight/quarrel/argument
To deliberately initiate a fight, quarrel, or argument with someone.
• After getting drunk, he always tries to pick a fight with people.
- the pick of something
The best or most outstanding from a group of people or things.
• Among all the applicants, John is the pick of the lot, in our opinion.
Phrasal Verbs of pick
- pick something out
To play a melody note by note in a slow or challenging manner.
• She spent hours picking the melody out of that song note by note.
- pick at something
to consume a small portion of your meal without much enthusiasm or enjoyment.
• She just picked at her salad because she was feeling stressed and had no appetite.
- pick something up
to acquire a new skill or language through practice rather than formal instruction
• He picked up French during his travels and can now speak it fluently.
- pick up on something
to resume discussion on a subject that was mentioned earlier by someone.
• At the end of the meeting, Mary picked up on her earlier suggestion.
- pick over something
to examine a collection of items carefully, selecting those you desire or discarding those you do not.
• While picking fresh fruits at the market, the customer carefully picks over the ripest ones.
- pick up
to elevate a person or object using one's hands
• She gently picked up the puppy to avoid hurting it.
- pick someone/something out
to identify, locate, or select an individual or item from a collection of people or things
• In the crowded market, she was able to easily pick her friend out.
- pick someone/something off
to target and shoot a specific individual, animal, or vehicle from among a group.
• The sniper was able to precisely pick off any target.
- pick someone/something up
to use your hands to elevate someone or something
• She gently picked up the puppy and cradled it in her arms.
- pick someone up on something
to point out and critique something that someone has said
• The teacher picked the student up on several logical errors in his thesis.
- pick on someone
to frequently and unjustly criticize, punish, or treat someone harshly.
• She always picks on me, making it really hard to tolerate.
- pick through something
to examine items within a collection in order to select those you need
• She picked through the box of old clothes to find a few items to donate.
- pick (something) up
to resume an activity following a pause or interruption
• We will pick up the discussion again in tomorrow's meeting after the pause.
- pick someone up
When the police detain someone, taking them to a police station to be interrogated or arrested.
• The police picked up a suspicious individual while patrolling the streets.