verb B2 Upper-Intermediate Uncommon

pluck

pluhk

Pluck (verb) means to pull something out or off with a quick, sharp motion. Example: “She plucked a stray hair from her sleeve.”

verb

To pull something out or off with a quick, sharp motion.

"She plucked a stray hair from her sleeve."

"He plucked an apple from the tree."

To remove feathers from a bird before cooking it.

"The butcher plucked and cleaned the chicken."

To sound a string on an instrument by pulling and releasing it with the fingers.

"She plucked the guitar strings softly."

noun

Courage and determination in a difficult situation.

"It took real pluck to stand up to the whole board."

How to use pluck

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo pull something out sharply, or (as a noun) spirited courage in a tough spot.

Common pairings

pluck up courage pluck an eyebrow show pluck

Word forms

plucked past tense, pluckt past tense, plucks plural, plucks singular

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

She _____ a stray hair from her sleeve.

Etymology

From Old English "pluccian", meaning to pull or tear away; the noun sense of "courage" grew out of an older meaning of "heart and lungs" — the organs pulled from a butchered animal, with "heart" coming to stand for bravery.

Origin: Old English

Synonyms

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pick pull roll rob tear hook hustle soak plume fleece tweak cull

Related words

take power choice pick completely choose join foot

Rhymes for pluck

fuck duck luck suck muck buck puck huck tuck stuck truck chuck

See all rhymes for pluck →

Frequently asked questions

What does “pluck” mean?

The word “pluck” means to pull something out or off with a quick, sharp motion. In plain terms, to pull something out sharply, or (as a noun) spirited courage in a tough spot.

How do you pronounce “pluck”?

“Pluck” is pronounced pluhk (/plʌk/ in IPA).

How do you use “pluck” in a sentence?

Here is “pluck” used in a sentence: “She plucked a stray hair from her sleeve.”

What part of speech is “pluck”?

Depending on how it is used, “pluck” can be a verb and a noun.

Where does the word “pluck” come from?

The word “pluck” comes from Old English.

Is “pluck” a common word?

“Pluck” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

How many meanings does “pluck” have?

“Pluck” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to pull something out or off with a quick, sharp motion.

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