pickup

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun American English

n. a small truck with an open back for carrying goods.

n. a light truck with an enclosed cab and an open-topped rear cargo area.

“He loaded the wooden planks into the back of his pickup.”

“The farmer preferred a rugged pickup for navigating the muddy tracks between the lower pastures and the main barn.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Sports Informal

n. a sports game that is not planned in advance, played by whoever is there.

n. an impromptu or ad hoc sporting event, typically involving players who have not previously practiced together as a formal team.

“We headed to the park for a quick pickup game of basketball.”

“Local enthusiasts often organize pickup soccer matches on Saturday mornings, welcoming anyone who happens to be at the community center.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun

n. the ability of a car or engine to increase its speed quickly.

n. the capacity of a motor vehicle or engine for rapid acceleration from a stationary or slow-moving state.

“The new electric car has amazing pickup when you press the pedal.”

“While the sedan offered a smooth ride, it lacked the pickup necessary for confident overtaking on steep mountain inclines.”

C1 · Advanced Countable noun Music Technical

n. a small device on a guitar or record player that turns sound or movement into electricity.

n. a transducer that captures mechanical vibrations, such as those from guitar strings, and converts them into electrical signals for amplification.

“He replaced the pickups on his electric guitar to get a warmer sound.”

“The technician identified a grounding issue within the bridge pickup, which was causing an audible hum whenever the amplifier was set to high gain.”

C1 · Advanced Countable noun Theater Technical

n. a small scene or shot filmed later to fix or improve a movie.

n. a minor shot or sequence recorded after the main production period to supplement or correct existing footage.

“The director realized they needed a few pickups to clarify the ending.”

“After reviewing the initial edit, the producers authorized two days of pickups to capture the necessary close-ups that were missed during the location shoot.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Computing Informal

n. an item in a video game that gives your character a bonus or power.

n. an object within a digital game environment that provides a benefit, such as health or ammunition, when touched by the player character.

“Look for the health pickup behind the red door.”

“The level design encourages exploration by hiding rare weapon pickups in hard-to-reach corners of the map.”

C1 · Advanced Countable noun Informal

n. the act of starting a conversation with a stranger to try and start a romance.

n. the act of engaging a stranger in flirtatious conversation with the intent of securing a date or sexual encounter.

“He tried a cheesy pickup line, but she just laughed and walked away.”

“The bar was a well-known spot for quick pickups, though most patrons were simply there for the music and expensive cocktails.”