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pick

noun · verb

Simple meaning

A tool used for digging.

Pronunciation

Say it like this:

pik
US device voice
IPA pronunciation (US)

ˈpɪk

This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.

IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.

Word Review

Definition

Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.

noun

  1. A pointed hammer used for dressing millstones.

  2. A tool for unlocking a lock without the original key; a lock pick, picklock.

  3. A comb with long widely spaced teeth, for use with tightly curled hair.

  4. That which would be picked or chosen first; the best.

  5. A choice; ability to choose.

  6. Australia

    Pasture; feed, for animals.

verb

  1. To grasp and pull with the fingers or fingernails.

  2. 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.

  3. To pull apart or away, especially with the fingers; to pluck.

  4. To take up; especially, to gather from here and there; to collect; to bring together.

  5. To remove something from somewhere with a pointed instrument, with the fingers, or with the teeth.

  6. To decide upon, from a set of options; to select.

Word at a Glance

Difficulty
A2 · Elementary
Frequency
Common
Typical Use
Everyday English

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  • “She finally picked her successor.”verb

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Word Family

Related forms, grouped by how they connect.

Inflected forms

Grammatical variations of the same word.

  • pickingnounInflected form

    The quantity of a crop that is harvested.

  • pickernounInflected form

    A person who chooses or selects out.

Compound terms

Established multiword terms.

  • pick apartverbCompound term

    Find fault with.

  • pick atverbCompound term

    Pluck or pull at with the fingers.

  • pick-me-upnounCompound term

    Anything with restorative powers.

  • pick-offnounCompound term

    A baseball play in which a base runner is caught off base and tagged out.

  • pick outverbCompound term

    Pick out, select, or choose from a number of alternatives.

  • pick oververbCompound term

    Separate or remove.

More about this wordSynonyms, forms, origin

Synonyms

Sense: pointed hammer used for dressing millstones

pickaxRare

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Dictionary data from Wiktionary via the Free Dictionary API. Simple meanings, combinations and word intelligence are built from verified reference data, no AI is used to load this page.