From Middle English piken, picken, pikken, from Old English *piccian, *pīcian (attested in pīcung (“a pricking”)), and pīcan, pȳcan (“to pick, prick, pluck”), both from Proto-West Germanic *pikkōn, from Proto-Germanic *pikkōną (“to pick, peck, prick, knock”), from Proto-Indo-European *bew-, *bu- (“to make a dull, hollow sound”). Doublet of pitch and peck.
Cognate with Dutch pikken (“to pick”), German picken (“to pick, peck”), Old Norse pikka, pjakka (whence Icelandic pikka (“to pick, prick”), Swedish picka (“to pick, peck”)). Compare also German Low German puken (“to pick out, rip out, pull away, extract”).
Meanings
A tool used for digging; a pickaxe.
(slang) An anchor.
It's better to amble around, drop the "pick" for a lunchtime swim or beachcomb, then find a nice anchorage for the night. 2021 December 14, The Road Ahead, Brisbane, page 41, column 2:
A pointed hammer used for dressing millstones.
A tool for unlocking a lock without the original key; a lock pick, picklock.
A comb with long widely spaced teeth, for use with tightly curled hair.
A tool used for strumming the strings of a guitar; a plectrum.
(obsolete) A pike or spike; the sharp point fixed in the center of a buckler.
Take down my buckler […] and grind the pick on 't. c. 1607–1611, Francis Beaumont, John Fletcher, “Cupid’s Revenge”, in Comedies and Tragedies […], London: […] Humphrey Robinson, […], and for Humphrey Moseley […], published 1679, →OCLC, Act IV, (please specify the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals):
A choice; ability to choose.
France and Russia have the pick of our stables. 1858, Edward Bulwer-Lytton, What Will He Do With It?:
That which would be picked or chosen first; the best.
(Australia) Pasture; feed, for animals.
‘She's all African grass and Brahmans. There's not a blade of native pick left, except on the ridges.’ 2002, Alex Miller, Journey to the Stone Country, Allen & Unwin, published 2003, page 69:
The judicious use of fire could have protected valuable nut trees, promoted the growth and seeding of grass and, if practised at a distance from their camps, even attracted herbivores to the sweet young pick. 2018, Tim Flannery, Europe: A Natural History, page 232:
A screen.
An offensive tactic in which a player stands so as to block a defender from reaching a teammate.
An interception.
A good defensive play by an infielder.
A pickoff.
(dated) A particle of ink or paper embedded in the hollow of a letter, filling up its face, and causing a spot on a printed sheet.
If it be in the smallest degree gritty, it clogs the form, and consequently produces a thick and imperfect impression; no pains should, therefore, be spared to render it perfectly smooth; it may then be made to work as clear and free from picks c. 1866, Thomas MacKellar, The American Printer:
(qualifier:painting) That which is picked in, as with a pointed pencil, to correct an unevenness in a picture.
The blow that drives the shuttle, used in calculating the speed of a loom (in picks per minute); hence, in describing the fineness of a fabric, a weft thread.
so many picks to an inch
Leaving a tail 2 yd long for hemstitching, weave 3 picks of plain weave and use the tail to hemstitch in groups of 8 warp ends. Weave 3 more picks of plain weave, then begin the pattern treadling following the draft in Figure 2, beginning with the border. 2026, Sydney Sogol, “Blue Morpho Runner”, in Handwoven, volume XLVII, number 1, page 50:
de Dietrich (tool to open a lock) · tr çilingir (tool to open a lock) · cmn 鶴嘴鋤 /鹤嘴锄 (pickaxe) · pl kandydat (choice) · ja つるはし (pickaxe) · ota آژینه (hammer for dressing millstones) · grc μάκελλα (pickaxe) · ru вы́бор (choice) · bg избор (choice) · it piccone (pickaxe) · fr pioche (pickaxe) · no dirk (tool to open a lock) · ta கோடாரி (pickaxe) · rup sapã (pickaxe) · ru засло́н (basketball: screen) · pl wybór (choice) · cs krumpáč (pickaxe) · bg заслон (basketball: screen) · es pico (pickaxe) · ru кайло́ (pickaxe) · zza dilgan (comb with long widely spaced teeth) · pl kilof (pickaxe) · fi hakku (pickaxe) · cmn 万能钥匙 (tool to open a lock) · mk копач (pickaxe) · fr passe-partout (tool to open a lock) · ca pic (pickaxe) · it stuzzicadenti (comb with long widely spaced teeth) · fi valinta (choice) · es ganzúa (tool to open a lock) · tr seçmek (choice) · it pettine (comb with long widely spaced teeth) · hy բրիչ (pickaxe) · fa کلنگ (pickaxe) · it grimaldello (tool to open a lock) · hu csákány (pickaxe) · sv val (choice) · ro târnăcop (pickaxe) · apc بيك (pickaxe) · es piqueta (pickaxe) · pt escolha (choice) · ru отмы́чка (tool to open a lock) · zza zengen (diq) (pickaxe) · pl możliwość wyboru (choice) · sv dyrk (tool to open a lock) · ml കോടാലി (pickaxe) · no valg (choice) · de Spitzhacke (pickaxe) · sv hacka (pickaxe) · hi गैंती (pickaxe) · no hakke (pickaxe) · de Hacke (pickaxe) · pl czekan (pickaxe) · es sacho (pickaxe) · ru кирка́ (pickaxe) · de Pickel (pickaxe) · it scelta (choice) · pl wytrych (tool to open a lock) · tr kazma (pickaxe) · uk ка́йло (pickaxe) · pl zasłona (basketball: screen) · mi pika (pickaxe) · chr ᎧᎾᏍᏕᏢᏗ (pickaxe) · pl prawo wyboru (choice) · it barriera (basketball: screen) · fr choix (choice) · mk трнокоп (pickaxe) · ar مِعْوَل (pickaxe) · fi harva kampa (comb with long widely spaced teeth) · eo pioĉo (pickaxe) · pt picareta (pickaxe) · fi tiirikka (tool to open a lock) · tr ajine (hammer for dressing millstones) · ar فَأْس (pickaxe) · bg кирка (pickaxe) · pl oskard (pickaxe) · hy քլունգ (pickaxe) · ga piocóid (pickaxe) · es zapapico (pickaxe) · bg търнокоп (pickaxe) · es puya (general purpose hooked tool part of a set) · uk ви́бір (choice)
From Middle English piken, picken, pikken, from Old English *piccian, *pīcian (attested in pīcung (“a pricking”)), and pīcan, pȳcan (“to pick, prick, pluck”), both from Proto-West Germanic *pikkōn, from Proto-Germanic *pikkōną (“to pick, peck, prick, knock”), from Proto-Indo-European *bew-, *bu- (“to make a dull, hollow sound”). Doublet of pitch and peck.
Cognate with Dutch pikken (“to pick”), German picken (“to pick, peck”), Old Norse pikka, pjakka (whence Icelandic pikka (“to pick, prick”), Swedish picka (“to pick, peck”)). Compare also German Low German puken (“to pick out, rip out, pull away, extract”).
Meanings
To grasp and pull with the fingers or fingernails.
Don't pick at that scab.
He picked his nose.
To harvest a fruit or vegetable for consumption by removing it from the plant to which it is attached; to harvest an entire plant by removing it from the ground.
It's time to pick the tomatoes.
To pull apart or away, especially with the fingers; to pluck.
She picked flowers in the meadow.
to pick feathers from a fowl
To take up; especially, to gather from here and there; to collect; to bring together.
to pick rags
To remove something from somewhere with a pointed instrument, with the fingers, or with the teeth.
to pick the teeth; to pick a bone; to pick a goose; to pick a pocket
Did you pick Master Slender's purse? c. 1597 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merry Wiues of Windsor”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i]:
He was charged with attempting to pick a pocket, and they found a silver snuff-box on him,--his own, my dear, his own, for he took snuff himself, and was very fond of it. 1838, Boz [pseudonym; Charles Dickens], chapter 43, in Oliver Twist; […], volume (please specify |volume=I, II, or III), London: Richard Bentley, […], →OCLC:
He picks clean teeth, and, busy as he seems / With an old tavern quill, is hungry yet. 1782–1785, William Cowper, “(please specify the page)”, in The Task, a Poem, […], London: […] J[oseph] Johnson; […], →OCLC:
For the pocket in which Erskine kept this key was not the kind of pocket that Watt could pick. For it was no ordinary pocket, no, but a secret one, sewn on to the front of Erskine's underhose. 1953, Samuel Beckett, Watt, [Paris]: Olympia Press, →OCLC:
To decide upon, from a set of options; to select.
She had to pick her steps to avoid the flutters of the quivering, bleeding bodies. 1907, Journal of Zoöphily, volume 14, number 3, Philadelphia: American Anti-Vivisection Society, page 26:
I'll pick the one with the nicest name.
(transitive) To seek (a fight or quarrel) where the opportunity arises.
To recognise the type of ball being bowled by a bowler by studying the position of the hand and arm as the ball is released.
He didn't pick the googly, and was bowled.
To pluck the individual strings of a musical instrument or to play such an instrument.
He picked a tune on his banjo.
To open (a lock) with a wire, lock pick, etc.
The lock was of a kind that Watt could not pick. Watt could pick simple locks, but he could not pick obscure locks. 1953, Samuel Beckett, Watt, [Paris]: Olympia Press, →OCLC:
To eat slowly, sparingly, or by morsels; to nibble.
Why stand'st thou picking? Is thy palate sore? 1693, John Dryden, Third Satire of Persius:
To do anything fastidiously or carefully, or by attending to small things; to select something with care.
I gingerly picked my way between the thorny shrubs.
To steal; to pilfer.
to keep my hands from picking and stealing 1549 March 7, Thomas Cranmer [et al.], compilers, The Booke of the Common Prayer and Administration of the Sacramentes, […], London: […] Edowardi Whitchurche […], →OCLC:
(obsolete) To throw; to pitch.
as high as I could pick my lance c. 1608–1609 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Coriolanus”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i]:
(dated, transitive) To peck at, as a bird with its beak; to strike at with anything pointed; to act upon with a pointed instrument; to pierce; to prick, as with a pin.
(ambitransitive) To separate or open by means of a sharp point or points.
to pick matted wool, cotton, oakum, etc.
Naphtha lamps shed a weird light over a busy scene, for the work was being continued night and day. A score or so of sturdy navvies were shovelling and picking along the track. 1912, Victor Whitechurch, Thrilling Stories of the Railway:
To screen.
(informal) To intercept a pass from the offense as a defensive player.
The pass was almost picked, but the tight end was able to hold on.
Forms
Spelling
Features
Labels
Source
pick
Number=Plur, Tense=Pres
lexicographic
pick
VerbForm=Inf
lexicographic
pick
Mood=Sub, Tense=Pres
lexicographic
pick
Number=Sing, Person=1, Tense=Pres
lexicographic
pick
Mood=Imp, Tense=Pres
lexicographic
pick
Number=Sing, Person=2, Tense=Pres
lexicographic
picketh
Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres
archaic
lexicographic
picking
Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part
lexicographic
picks
Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres
lexicographic
picked
Number=Plur, Tense=Past
lexicographic
picked
Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Past
lexicographic
picked
Number=Sing, Person=2, Tense=Past
lexicographic
picked
Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part
lexicographic
picked
Mood=Sub, Tense=Past
lexicographic
picked
Number=Sing, Person=1, Tense=Past
lexicographic
picked
Tense=Past
lexicographic
pickest
Number=Sing, Person=2, Tense=Pres
archaic
lexicographic
pickedst
Number=Sing, Person=2, Tense=Past
archaic
lexicographic
Deriveds
pick up (Terms derived from the pick (verb)) · pick corners (Terms derived from the pick (verb)) · pick holes (Terms derived from the pick (verb)) · pick-to-box (Terms derived from the pick (verb)) · picky (Terms derived from the pick (verb)) · nose-picking (Terms derived from the pick (verb)) · pick someone's brains (Terms derived from the pick (verb)) · pick-by-order (Terms derived from the pick (verb)) · downpick (Terms derived from the pick (verb)) · cherry-pick (Terms derived from the pick (verb)) · pick-me boy (Terms derived from the pick (verb)) · picker (Terms derived from the pick (verb)) · a bone to pick (Terms derived from the pick (verb)) · pick the right horse (Terms derived from the pick (verb)) · pickability (Terms derived from the pick (verb)) · pick-to-tote (Terms derived from the pick (verb)) · pick fault (Terms derived from the pick (verb)) · pick a quarrel (Terms derived from the pick (verb)) · pick fights (Terms derived from the pick (verb)) · pick-to-belt (Terms derived from the pick (verb)) · repick (Terms derived from the pick (verb)) · e-pick (Terms derived from the pick (verb)) · pick from a hat (Terms derived from the pick (verb)) · pick somebody's brain (Terms derived from the pick (verb)) · pickpocket (Terms derived from the pick (verb)) · pick and pop (Terms derived from the pick (verb)) · pick and choose (Terms derived from the pick (verb)) · pick-by-vision (Terms derived from the pick (verb)) · crow to pick (Terms derived from the pick (verb)) · pickproof (Terms derived from the pick (verb)) · sort-while-pick (Terms derived from the pick (verb)) · thumbpick (Terms derived from the pick (verb)) · pick-to-cart (Terms derived from the pick (verb)) · know how to pick 'em (Terms derived from the pick (verb)) · pickin' and grinnin' (Terms derived from the pick (verb)) · pick through (Terms derived from the pick (verb)) · pick-quarrel (Terms derived from the pick (verb)) · pick-at-will (Terms derived from the pick (verb)) · pick a lane (Terms derived from the pick (verb)) · nutpick (Terms derived from the pick (verb)) · pick out of a hat (Terms derived from the pick (verb)) · pickmire (Terms derived from the pick (verb)) · pick apart (Terms derived from the pick (verb)) · pick off (Terms derived from the pick (verb)) · pick the wrong horse (Terms derived from the pick (verb)) · pickpurse (Terms derived from the pick (verb)) · pick-to-light (Terms derived from the pick (verb)) · pick one's way (Terms derived from the pick (verb)) · pick gooseberry (Terms derived from the pick (verb)) · picksman (Terms derived from the pick (verb)) · unpick (Terms derived from the pick (verb)) · pick-your-own (Terms derived from the pick (verb)) · pickup (Terms derived from the pick (verb)) · pickfest (Terms derived from the pick (verb)) · pick-to-order (Terms derived from the pick (verb)) · pick and place (Terms derived from the pick (verb)) · rockpicking (Terms derived from the pick (verb)) · pickcheese (Terms derived from the pick (verb)) · pick-me girl (Terms derived from the pick (verb)) · pick one's nose (Terms derived from the pick (verb)) · pick sides (Terms derived from the pick (verb)) · pick bids off the wall (Terms derived from the pick (verb)) · pick over (Terms derived from the pick (verb)) · pick-to-carton (Terms derived from the pick (verb)) · handpick (Terms derived from the pick (verb)) · mispick (Terms derived from the pick (verb)) · pick-and-sort (Terms derived from the pick (verb)) · pick on (Terms derived from the pick (verb)) · outpick (Terms derived from the pick (verb)) · picktooth (Terms derived from the pick (verb)) · pick and pack (Terms derived from the pick (verb)) · pick away at (Terms derived from the pick (verb)) · fingerpick (Terms derived from the pick (verb)) · hand-pick (Terms derived from the pick (verb)) · pick-by-voice (Terms derived from the pick (verb)) · U-pick (Terms derived from the pick (verb)) · pick 'em (Terms derived from the pick (verb)) · pick flowers (Terms derived from the pick (verb)) · pick oakum (Terms derived from the pick (verb)) · pickable (Terms derived from the pick (verb)) · pick 'n' mix (Terms derived from the pick (verb)) · pick up on (Terms derived from the pick (verb)) · autopick (Terms derived from the pick (verb)) · nitpick (Terms derived from the pick (verb)) · pick quarrels (Terms derived from the pick (verb)) · ripe for the picking (Terms derived from the pick (verb)) · have a bone to pick (Terms derived from the pick (verb)) · pick your poison (Terms derived from the pick (verb)) · pick-fault (Terms derived from the pick (verb)) · pick one's battles (Terms derived from the pick (verb)) · nose-pick (Terms derived from the pick (verb)) · pick-to-voice (Terms derived from the pick (verb)) · pickpenny (Terms derived from the pick (verb)) · rockpicker (Terms derived from the pick (verb)) · pick at (Terms derived from the pick (verb)) · you-pick (Terms derived from the pick (verb)) · pick and pass (Terms derived from the pick (verb)) · pick and roll (Terms derived from the pick (verb)) · pick a hole in someone's coat (Terms derived from the pick (verb)) · pick out (Terms derived from the pick (verb)) · pick-me (Terms derived from the pick (verb)) · bone to pick (Terms derived from the pick (verb)) · hand-picked (Terms derived from the pick (verb)) · pick a fight (Terms derived from the pick (verb)) · pick someone's brain (Terms derived from the pick (verb))
tr dermek (to remove a fruit or plant for consumption) · it prendere (to grasp and pull with fingers) · it raccogliere (to remove a fruit or plant for consumption) · izh noblia (to remove a fruit or plant for consumption) · mi whaki (to remove a fruit or plant for consumption) · es escogitar (to decide upon, from a set of options; to select) · uk вибира́ти (to decide upon, from a set of options; to select) · ko 정하다 (to decide upon, from a set of options; to select) · bg хвана (to grasp and pull with fingers) · fr pincer (to pluck the individual strings of a musical instrument) · eo pluki (to remove a fruit or plant for consumption) · de pflücken (to remove a fruit or plant for consumption) · pt escolher (to decide upon, from a set of options; to select) · az dərmək (to remove a fruit or plant for consumption) · pt colher (to remove a fruit or plant for consumption) · ta பறி (to remove a fruit or plant for consumption) · tyz boi (to grasp and pull with fingers) · bg избирам (to decide upon, from a set of options; to select) · pl zrywać (to remove a fruit or plant for consumption) · ta நோண்டு (to grasp and pull with fingers) · ru собра́ть (to remove a fruit or plant for consumption) · nb plukke (to grasp and pull with fingers) · id petik (to remove a fruit or plant for consumption) · fy plôkje (to remove a fruit or plant for consumption) · fi poimia (to remove a fruit or plant for consumption) · fr cueillir (to remove a fruit or plant for consumption) · fi valita (to decide upon, from a set of options; to select) · hy քչփորել (to grasp and pull with fingers) · nl kiezen (to decide upon, from a set of options; to select) · es escarbar (to grasp and pull with fingers) · lt skinti (to remove a fruit or plant for consumption) · id memetik (to remove a fruit or plant for consumption) · no pilke (to grasp and pull with fingers) · ja 摘む (to remove a fruit or plant for consumption) · cy casglu (to remove a fruit or plant for consumption) · mi whakatete (to decide upon, from a set of options; to select) · ko 뜯다 (to pluck the individual strings of a musical instrument) · fi tonkia (to grasp and pull with fingers) · ru сорва́ть (to remove a fruit or plant for consumption) · fr prendre (to grasp and pull with fingers) · cmn 摘 (to remove a fruit or plant for consumption) · is lesa (to grasp and pull with fingers) · mi whiri (to decide upon, from a set of options; to select) · bcl pudo (to remove a fruit or plant for consumption) · ga pioc (to grasp and pull with fingers) · ko 따다 (to remove a fruit or plant for consumption) · he קָטַף (to remove a fruit or plant for consumption) · tl kunin (to remove a fruit or plant for consumption) · izh reppiä (to remove a fruit or plant for consumption) · mi tāhora (to remove a fruit or plant for consumption) · yue 摘 (to remove a fruit or plant for consumption) · es hurgar (to grasp and pull with fingers) · nl nemen (to grasp and pull with fingers) · it pizzicare (to pluck the individual strings of a musical instrument) · it scegliere (to decide upon, from a set of options; to select) · ru собира́ть (to remove a fruit or plant for consumption) · la carpō (to remove a fruit or plant for consumption) · fy ploaitsje (to remove a fruit or plant for consumption) · pl wybierać (to decide upon, from a set of options; to select) · ru выбра́ть (to decide upon, from a set of options; to select) · nl plukken (to remove a fruit or plant for consumption) · pt pegar (to grasp and pull with fingers) · mi whawhaki (to remove a fruit or plant for consumption) · sv plocka (to grasp and pull with fingers) · da plukke (to grasp and pull with fingers) · no plukke (to remove a fruit or plant for consumption) · es esculcar (to grasp and pull with fingers) · bho चुनल (to decide upon, from a set of options; to select) · pl grzebać (to grasp and pull with fingers) · kix tsùo (to grasp and pull with fingers) · qu p'itiy (to remove a fruit or plant for consumption) · pl gmerać (to grasp and pull with fingers) · ca collir (to remove a fruit or plant for consumption) · la carpō (to grasp and pull with fingers) · bg хващам (to grasp and pull with fingers) · got 𐍅𐌰𐌻𐌾𐌰𐌽 (to decide upon, from a set of options; to select) · bg бера (to remove a fruit or plant for consumption) · tl manguha (to remove a fruit or plant for consumption) · ru выбира́ть (to decide upon, from a set of options; to select) · es recoger (to remove a fruit or plant for consumption) · bg късам (to remove a fruit or plant for consumption) · pl wybrać (to decide upon, from a set of options; to select) · fr cueillir (to grasp and pull with fingers) · grc ἐκλέγω (to decide upon, from a set of options; to select) · mi whakiwhaki (to remove a fruit or plant for consumption) · nrf tchilyi (to remove a fruit or plant for consumption) · nl krabben (to grasp and pull with fingers) · pl zbierać (to remove a fruit or plant for consumption) · ga pioc (to remove a fruit or plant for consumption) · mi kōwhiri (to decide upon, from a set of options; to select) · sv välja (to decide upon, from a set of options; to select) · cu чесати (to remove a fruit or plant for consumption) · fi lukea (cricket: to recognise the type of ball being bowled) · hi चुनना (to decide upon, from a set of options; to select) · br pegañ (to grasp and pull with fingers) · sv plocka (to remove a fruit or plant for consumption) · ga pioc (to decide upon, from a set of options; to select) · de zupfen (to pluck the individual strings of a musical instrument) · no velge (to decide upon, from a set of options; to select) · pl dłubać (to grasp and pull with fingers) · cy pigo (to remove a fruit or plant for consumption) · fr choisir (to decide upon, from a set of options; to select) · ru срыва́ть (to remove a fruit or plant for consumption) · izh noppia (to remove a fruit or plant for consumption) · nci pehpena (to grasp and pull with fingers) · bg избера (to decide upon, from a set of options; to select) · tr toplamak (to remove a fruit or plant for consumption) · ru рва́ть (to remove a fruit or plant for consumption) · ota سچمك (to decide upon, from a set of options; to select) · zza arêden (to remove a fruit or plant for consumption) · es escoger (to decide upon, from a set of options; to select) · tyz bít (to remove a fruit or plant for consumption)