verb
pluck
pluhk
verb
1
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."
2
To remove feathers from a bird before cooking it.
"The butcher plucked and cleaned the chicken."
3
To sound a string on an instrument by pulling and releasing it with the fingers.
"She plucked the guitar strings softly."
noun
1
Courage and determination in a difficult situation.
"It took real pluck to stand up to the whole board."
How to Use Pluck
Learner’s notesIn 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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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.