ENGLISH
REFERENCE

pickup

n.
US //ˈpɪˌkəp// UK //pˈɪkʌp// pick·up
  1. 1 collecting someone or something (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    the act of going to a place to get a person or an item, often in a car.

    the act of collecting and taking away a person or object, typically involving a pre-arranged vehicular transport.

    Example

    The school sent an email to parents about the new afternoon pickup rules.

    Example

    The courier confirmed a scheduled pickup for the legal documents, ensuring they would reach the head office before the close of business.
    • drop off
    Pitfall
    I have a pick up at 5:00.
    I have a pickup at 5:00.

    Use the one-word 'pickup' for the noun; 'pick up' with a space is the verb form.

  2. 2 a type of truck (n.)
    B1 Intermediate American English

    a small truck with an open back for carrying goods.

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

    Example

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

    Example

    The farmer preferred a rugged pickup for navigating the muddy tracks between the lower pastures and the main barn.
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  1. 3 an informal game (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Informal Sport

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

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

    Example

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

    Example

    Local enthusiasts often organize pickup soccer matches on Saturday mornings, welcoming anyone who happens to be at the community center.
  2. 4 acceleration (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

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

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

    Example

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

    Example

    While the sedan offered a smooth ride, it lacked the pickup necessary for confident overtaking on steep mountain inclines.
  3. 5 electronic sensor (n.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Music

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

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

    Example

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

    Example

    The technician identified a grounding issue within the bridge pickup, which was causing an audible hum whenever the amplifier was set to high gain.
  4. 6 extra film footage (n.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Theatre

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

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

    Example

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

    Example

    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.
  5. 7 video game item (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Informal Computing

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

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

    Example

    Look for the health pickup behind the red door.

    Example

    The level design encourages exploration by hiding rare weapon pickups in hard-to-reach corners of the map.
  6. 8 social/romantic meeting (n.)
    C1 Advanced Informal

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

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

    Example

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

    Example

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

From pick + up.

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