verb

pick

pihk

verb

To choose one thing from a number of options.

"She picked the blue dress for the party."

"We need to pick a date for the wedding."

To gather or harvest, especially fruit, by pulling it from where it grows.

"They spent the morning picking apples in the orchard."

To pull at something repeatedly, often with the fingers.

"Stop picking at that scab, it'll never heal."

To open a lock without the proper key, using a thin tool.

"The locksmith picked the lock in under a minute."

noun

A pointed tool used for digging or breaking up hard ground; a pickaxe.

"He swung the pick into the frozen soil."

A small flat piece of plastic or bone used to pluck guitar strings; a plectrum.

"He lost his favorite pick during the show."

The best or most preferred choice.

"That restaurant is the pick of the neighborhood."

How to Use Pick

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo choose, gather, pluck, or pry something loose — or a tool/object used for that purpose.

Common mistake

"Pick up" (as a phrasal verb) has its own meanings — to lift, collect, or learn something — distinct from plain "pick."

Common pairings

pick a fight pick and choose take your pick guitar pick

Word Forms

picked past tense, picks plural, pick plural, picked plural, Picks plural, picks singular, pick singular, picked singular, pickest singular, pickedst singular, picketh singular

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

She _____ the blue dress for the party.

Etymology

From Old English roots meaning "to pick, peck, or prick," related to Dutch pikken and German picken.

Rhymes for pick

ick tick kick nick sick rick wick mick hick lick Vick thick

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