to choose or select from among a group

to pick a contestant from the audience.

to seek and find occasion for; provoke

to pick a fight.

to attempt to find; seek out

to pick flaws in an argument.

to steal the contents of

Her pocket was picked yesterday.

to open (a lock) with a device other than the key, as a sharp instrument or wire, esp. for the purpose of burglary.

to pierce, indent, dig into, or break up (something) with a pointed instrument

to pick rock; to pick ore.

to form (a hole) by such action

to pick a hole in asphalt.

to use a pointed instrument, the fingers, the teeth, the beak, etc., on (a thing), in order to remove or loosen something, as a small part or adhering matter

to pick one's teeth.

to prepare for use by removing a covering piece by piece, as feathers, hulls, or other parts

to pick a fowl.

to detach or remove piece by piece with the fingers

She picked the meat from the bones.

to pluck or gather one by one

to pick flowers.

(of birds or other animals) to take up (small bits of food) with the bill or teeth.

to eat daintily or in small morsels.

to separate, pull apart, or pull to pieces

to pick fibers.

Music .

to pluck (the strings of an instrument).

to play (a stringed instrument) by plucking with the fingers.

to strike with or use a pick or other pointed instrument on something.

(of birds or other animals) to take up small bits of food with the bill or teeth

The hens were busily picking about in their coop.

to select carefully or fastidiously.

to pilfer; steal.

to pluck or gather fruit, flowers, etc.

Basketball . to execute a pick.

the act of choosing or selecting; choice; selection

to take one's pick.

a person or thing that is selected

He is our pick for president.

the choicest or most desirable part, example, or examples

This horse is the pick of the stable.

the right of selection

He gave me my pick of the litter.

the quantity of a crop picked, as from trees, bushes, etc., at a particular time

The pick was poor this season.

Printing .

a speck of dirt, hardened ink, or extra metal on set type or a plate.

a small area removed from the surface of a coated paper by ink that adheres to the form.

a stroke with something pointed

The rock shattered at the first pick of the ax.

Basketball . an offensive maneuver in which a player moves into a position between a defender and a teammate with the ball so as to prevent the defender from interfering with the shot. ?

pick at,

to find fault with unnecessarily or persistently; nag.

to eat sparingly or daintily

As he was ill, he only picked at his food.

to grasp at; touch; handle

The baby loved to pick at her mother's glasses.

pick off,

to remove by pulling or plucking off.

to single out and shoot

The hunter picked off a duck rising from the marsh.

Baseball . to put out (a base runner) in a pick-off play.

pick on,

Informal . to criticize or blame; tease; harass.

to single out; choose

The professor always picks on me to translate long passages.

pick out,

to choose; designate

to pick out one's successor.

to distinguish from that which surrounds or accompanies; recognize

to pick out a well-known face in a crowd.

to discern (sense or meaning); discriminate.

to play (a melody) by ear; work out note by note.

to extract by picking.

pick over, to examine (an assortment of items) in order to make a selection

Eager shoppers were picking over the shirts on the bargain tables.

pick up,

to lift or take up

to pick up a stone.

to collect, esp. in an orderly manner

Pick up the tools when you're finished.

to recover (one's courage, health, etc.); regain.

to gain by occasional opportunity; obtain casually

to pick up a livelihood.

to learn, as by experience

I've picked up a few Japanese phrases.

to claim

to pick up one's bags at an airport.

to take (a person or thing) into a car or ship, etc., or along with one.

to bring into range of reception, observation, etc.

to pick up Rome on one's radio.

to accelerate; gain (speed).

to put in good order; tidy

to pick up a room.

to make progress; improve

Business is beginning to pick up.

to catch or contract, as a disease.

Informal . to become acquainted with informally or casually, often in hope of a sexual relationship

Let's pick up some dates tonight.

to resume or continue after being left off

Let's pick up the discussion in our next meeting.

Informal . to take into custody; arrest

They picked him up for vagrancy.

Informal . to obtain; find; purchase

She picked up some nice shoes on sale.

Slang . to steal

to pick up jewels and silver.

to accept, as in order to pay

to pick up the check.

pick up on, Informal .

become aware or cognizant of; be perceptive about; notice

to pick up on the hostess's hostility.

to pay special attention to; keep an eye on

to pick up on a troubled student.

pick and choose

to be very careful or particular in choosing

With such a limited supply of fresh fruit, you won't be able to pick and choose.

pick apart

to criticize severely or in great detail

They picked her apart the moment she left the room.

pick it up, Informal . to move, work, etc.

at a faster rate.

pick one's way or steps

to walk with care and deliberation

She picked her way across the muddy field.

pick someone's brains. brain ( def. 12 ) .

verb

pick