ENGLISH
REFERENCE

pick

v. · n.
US //ˈpɪk// UK //pˈɪk// pick
  1. 1 to choose (v.)
    A1 Beginner

    to select something or someone from a group.

    to select from a number of alternatives.

    Example

    You can pick any book you like from the shelf.

    Example

    The committee will pick the most qualified candidate after reviewing all the submitted portfolios.
  2. 2 to harvest (v.)
    A2 Elementary

    to take flowers, fruit, or vegetables off a plant.

    to harvest or gather by plucking from the place of growth.

    Example

    We spent the afternoon picking apples in the orchard.

    Example

    The vineyard workers must pick the grapes at the precise moment of ripeness to ensure the wine's quality.
Show 8 more sensesShow fewer
  1. 3 to remove small pieces (v.)
    B1 Intermediate

    to use your fingers or a tool to remove small bits of something.

    to remove something from a surface or cavity using the fingers or a pointed instrument.

    Example

    He tried to pick the lint off his black sweater.

    Example

    The bird used its beak to pick insects out of the crevices in the tree bark.
  2. 4 to start a fight (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to intentionally start an argument or a fight with someone.

    to provoke or initiate a quarrel or conflict deliberately.

    Example

    He was looking for trouble and tried to pick a fight with the waiter.

    Example

    It is unwise to pick a quarrel with a colleague over such a trivial administrative matter.
  3. 5 to open a lock (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to open a lock without using the proper key.

    to open a lock by using a wire or tool other than the intended key.

    Example

    The thief managed to pick the lock in less than a minute.

    Example

    The protagonist in the film had to pick the lock of the safe to retrieve the stolen documents.
  4. 6 a choice (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    the person or thing that has been chosen.

    the act of selecting or the person or thing selected.

    Example

    The blue dress was her top pick for the party.

    Example

    The coach announced that the young striker was his first pick for the starting lineup.
  5. 7 a digging tool (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    a heavy tool with a curved metal head used for breaking hard ground.

    a heavy tool with a long handle and a curved metal head pointed at one or both ends.

    Example

    The miners used a pick to break through the hard rock.

    Example

    The archaeological team carefully used a pick and shovel to clear the compacted earth from the site.
    • pickaxe
  6. 8 guitar tool (n.)
    B1 Intermediate Music

    a small, flat piece of plastic used to play a guitar.

    a small thin piece of plastic, ivory, or metal used to pluck the strings of a guitar or similar instrument.

    Example

    He dropped his guitar pick inside the acoustic guitar by accident.

    Example

    The lead guitarist prefers a heavy pick to achieve a sharper attack during his solos.
    • plectrum
  7. 9 the best (n.)
    C1 Advanced Formal

    the best part or the best items in a group.

    the best or most desirable part of a group or collection.

    Example

    They had the pick of the best seats because they arrived early.

    Example

    As the first investor, she had the pick of the most promising startups in the incubator program.
  8. 10 sports block (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate American English Sport

    a move in sports where a player blocks a defender to help a teammate.

    an offensive manoeuvre in which a player stands in the way of a defender to free a teammate for a shot or pass.

    Example

    The center set a pick to help the guard get an open shot.

    Example

    The referee whistled for a foul because the player was moving while attempting to set a pick.
Origin

From Middle English piken, picken, pikken, from Old English piccian, pīcian (attested in pīcung (“a pricking”)), and pīcan, pȳcan (“to pick, prick, pluck”), both from Proto-West Germanic pikkōn, from Proto-Germanic pikkōną (“to pick, peck, prick, knock”), from Proto-Indo-European bew-, bu- (“to make a dull, hollow sound”). Doublet of pitch and peck. Cognate with Dutch pikken (“to pick”), German picken (“to pick, peck”), Old Norse pikka, pjakka (whence Icelandic pikka (“to pick, prick”), Swedish picka (“to pick, peck”)). Compare also German Low German puken (“to pick out, rip out, pull away, extract”).

Word family
Idioms21 entries

© 2026 English Reference