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

Verb (1)

pick peas and beans from the garden for dinner

I pick you as my partner

he seems to be trying to pick a fight

still suffering from the shock of his wife's death, he could do no more than pick halfheartedly at his food

continued to pick the block of ice until she was able to extract the shrimp

Noun (1)

that team is my pick to win the Super Bowl

the pick of the contestants will go on to the next competition

you have first pick of your office mates for the softball team

in the days when corporal punishment was permissible, it was not uncommon for an inattentive student to get a sharp pick in the head with a blackboard pointer

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Even better, all of our top picks are going for under $55 right now. —Isabel Garcia, People.com, 20 Dec. 2024

Bernstein names a top pick with almost 50% upside European utilities and clean energy had an underwhelming performance in 2024, but Bernstein sees bright spots within the sector to play in the year ahead. —Karen Gilchrist,chloe Taylor, CNBC, 20 Dec. 2024

Verb

These are commonly understood as calamities, embarrassments, monumental upsets — pick your descriptor. —Zach Przystup, Baltimore Sun, 10 Dec. 2024

Kristi Noem Trump picked South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem for the role of secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. —Sara Dorn, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024

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)

circa 1522, 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
• ear pick
• first pick
• ice pick
• number one pick
• pick a fight
• pick a lock
• pick and choose
• pick-and-mix
• pick-and-roll
• pick-and-shovel
• pick apart
• pick a quarrel
• pick/choose your poison
• pick-me-up
• pick nits
• pick off
• pick oneself up
• pick one's way
• pick out
• pick over
• pick-six
• pick (someone or something) to pieces/shreds
• pick someone's brain/brains
• pick someone's pocket
• pick (something) clean
• pick/step up the pace
• pick/take up the cudgels for
• pick/take up the gauntlet
• pick/take up the slack
• pick the brains of
• pick up
• pick up after (someone)
• pick up and leave/go
• pick up on
• pick up speed/momentum
• pick up steam
• pick up the pace
• pick up the pieces
• pick up the tab
• pick up the tab/bill/check
• pick up the threads
• take one's pick
• the pick of the bunch
• the pick of the litter
• water pick

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"