Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense plucks, present participle plucking, past tense, past participle plucked
1. verb
If you pluck a fruit, flower, or leaf, you take it between your fingers and pull it in order to remove it from its stalk where it is growing.
[written]
I plucked a lemon from the tree. [VERB noun + from]
He plucked a stalk of dried fennel. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: pull out or off, pick, draw, collect More Synonyms of pluck
2. verb
If you pluck something from somewhere, you take it between your fingers and pull it sharply from where it is.
[written]
Jill rose, plucking bits of straw from her clothes. [VERB noun from noun]
He plucked the baby out of my arms. [V n out of n]
I plucked off a little crunchy chunk of meat. [V n + off]
3. verb
If you pluck a guitar or other musical instrument, you pull the strings with your fingers and let them go, so that they make a sound.
Nell was plucking a harp. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: strum, pick, finger, twang More Synonyms of pluck
4. verb
If you pluck a chicken or other dead bird, you pull its feathers out to prepare it for cooking.
She looked relaxed as she plucked a chicken. [VERB noun]
5. verb
If you pluck your eyebrows, you pull out some of the hairs using tweezers.
You've plucked your eyebrows at last! [VERB noun]
6. verb [usually passive]
If someone unknown is given an important job or role and quickly becomes famous because of it, you can say that they have been pluckedfrom obscurity or pluckedfrom an unimportant position.
[written]
She was plucked from the corps de ballet to take on Juliet. [beVERB-ed + from]
The agency plucked her from obscurity and turned her into one of the world's topmodels. [VERB noun + from]
7. verb [usually passive]
If someone is rescued from a dangerous situation, you can say that they are pluckedfrom it or are pluckedto safety.
A workman was plucked from the roof of a burning power station by a police helicopter. [beVERB-ed + from]
Ten fishermen were plucked to safety from life-rafts. [beVERB-ed + to]
8. uncountable noun
If you say that someone has pluck, you mean that they show courage and determination when they are in a difficult or frightening situation.
[approval]
Little companies are known for their pluck and perseverance, even in the face ofa recession.
Synonyms: courage, nerve, heart, spirit More Synonyms of pluck
9.
See to pluck up the courage
10.
See pluck sth out of the air
Phrasal verbs:
See pluck at
More Synonyms of pluck
pluck in British English
(plʌk)
verb
1. (transitive)
to pull off (feathers, fruit, etc) from (a fowl, tree, etc)
2. (whenintr, foll by at)
to pull or tug
3. (tr; foll by off, away, etc) archaic
to pull (something) forcibly or violently (from something or someone)
4. (transitive)
to sound (the strings) of (a musical instrument) with the fingers, a plectrum, etc
5. (transitive) another word for strip1 (sense 7)
6. (transitive) slang
to fleece or swindle
noun
7.
courage, usually in the face of difficulties or hardship
8.
a sudden pull or tug
9.
the heart, liver, and lungs, esp of an animal used for food
Derived forms
plucker (ˈplucker)
noun
Word origin
Old English pluccian, plyccan; related to German pflücken
pluck in American English
(plʌk)
verb transitive
1.
to pull off or out; pick
2.
to drag or snatch; grab
3.
to pull feathers or hair from
to pluck a chicken, pluck eyebrows
4.
to pull at (the strings of a musical instrument) and release quickly with little jerking movements of the fingers
5. Slang
to rob or swindle
verb intransitive
6.
to pull; tug; snatch
often with at
7.
to pluck a musical instrument
noun
8.
an act of pulling; tug
9.
an animal's heart, liver, lungs, and windpipe, used for food
10.
courage to meet danger or difficulty; fortitude
SIMILAR WORDS: ˈfortitude
Idioms:
pluck up
Derived forms
plucker (ˈplucker)
noun
Word origin
ME plukken < OE pluccian, akin to Ger pflücken < VL *piluccare, to pull out (> Fr éplucher), for L pilare, to deprive of hair < pilus, hair: see pile2
Examples of 'pluck' in a sentence
pluck
These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content.Read more…
Neither has exactly been plucked from obscurity.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
I pluck up the courage to get a little closer.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
They have established ritual places for the plucking of birds; you could tell them from the proliferation of feathers and random body parts.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Finally, I plucked up enough courage to go to the bar.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
She was plucked from relative obscurity for the demanding role and many questioned whether she could cope.
The Sun (2015)
So it is not as if he has just been plucked from retirement.
The Sun (2008)
He shows grit and pluck when his back is to the wall.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Some farms let you pluck fruit off trees as you stroll.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
She has finally plucked up the courage to face it head on.
The Sun (2006)
They were starstruck when they plucked up the courage to say hello.
The Sun (2012)
Or he could just have plucked a name at random.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Grow young players only for richer rivals to pluck the fruit when it is ripe?
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Finally we pluck up the courage to face her.
The Sun (2010)
They had a polite chat after the group plucked up the courage to go over and talk.
The Sun (2012)
It shows pluck, but that is all.
Jerome K. Jerome Three Men in a Boat (1889)
You can't just pluck it out of thin air.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
If only our high-tech companies could show such pluck!
Geoffrey A. Moore INSIDE THE TORNADO: MARKETING STRATEGIES FROM SILICON VALLEY'S CUTTING EDGE (2001)
Obviously he existed only in my mind, a bird plucked from the pages of the bird books of my boyhood.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Walking gamely over the rubble that filled the frame, the milkman was a symbol of British pluck and determination.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
He reached up, plucked something from the empty air, then showed a handful of tiny silver coins to us.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The manager prides himself on plucking players from obscurity, despite the club announcing a new centre of excellence facility on Friday.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
In other languages
pluck
British English: pluck VERB
If you pluck a fruit, flower, or leaf, you take it between your fingers and pull it in order to remove it from its stalk where it is growing.
I plucked a lemon from the tree.
American English: pluck
Brazilian Portuguese: colher
Chinese: 采摘
European Spanish: coger
French: cueillir
German: pflücken
Italian: cogliere
Japanese: 摘む
Korean: 뽑다
European Portuguese: colher
Latin American Spanish: coger
Translate your text for free
All related terms of 'pluck'
pluck at
If you pluck at something, you take it between your fingers and pull it sharply but gently.
pluck up
to pull out; uproot
pluck hairs
Hair is the short, fine threads that grow on different parts of your body.
to pluck up the courage
If you pluck up the courage to do something that you feel nervous about, you make an effort to be brave enough to do it.
pluck sth out of the air
If you say that someone plucks a figure , name, or date out of the air , you mean that they say it without thinking much about it before they speak .
pull something out of the air
to suddenly state something without considering it carefully or using correct information
Chinese translation of 'pluck'
pluck
(plʌk)
vt
[fruit, flower, leaf]采(採)摘 (cǎizhāi)
(= seize) 扯 (chě)
[guitar, strings]拨(撥) (bō)
[chicken, turkey, goose]拔 ... 的毛 (bá ... de máo)
[eyebrows]拔 (bá)
n(u)
(= courage) 勇气(氣) (yǒngqì)
to be plucked from danger脱(脫)离(離)危险(險) (tuōlí wēixiǎn)
to be plucked to safety转(轉)危为(為)安 (zhuǎn wēi wéi ān)
to pluck up (the) courage (to do sth)鼓起勇气(氣)(做某事) (gǔ qǐ yǒngqì (zuò mǒushì))
1 (verb)
Definition
to pull out the feathers of (a bird for cooking)
I plucked a lemon from the tree.
Synonyms
pull out or off
pick
He helped his mother pick fruit.
draw
We drew the winning name.
collect
They collected donations for a fund to help the earthquake victims.
gather
The people lived by fishing, gathering nuts and fruits, and hunting.
harvest
Many farmers are refusing to harvest the sugar cane.
2 (verb)
Definition
to sound the strings of (a musical instrument) with the fingers or a plectrum
He plucked the pen from behind his ear.
Synonyms
tug
A little boy tugged at her sleeve excitedly.
catch
I jumped up to catch the ball and fell over.
snatch
He snatched the telephone from me.
clutch
I staggered and had to clutch at a chair for support.
jerk
yank
She yanked the child back into the house.
tweak
He tweaked my ear roughly.
pull at
3 (verb)
Nell was plucking a harp.
Synonyms
strum
Vaska strummed away on his guitar.
pick
finger
twang
thrum
plunk
(noun)
Definition
courage
Cynics might sneer at him but you have to admire his pluck.
Synonyms
courage
They do not have the courage to apologise for their actions.
nerve
I never got up enough nerve to tell him he was wrong.
If we keep our nerve, we might be able to bluff it out.
heart
I did not have the heart or spirit left to jog back to my hotel.
spirit
She was a very brave girl and everyone admired her spirit.
bottle (British, slang)
Will anyone have the bottle to go through with it?
resolution
He implemented policy with resolution and single-mindedness.
determination
They acted with great courage and determination.
guts (informal)
balls (taboo, slang)
grit
He showed grit and determination in his fight back to health.
bravery
You deserve the highest praise for your bravery.
backbone
You might be taking drastic measures and you've got to have the backbone to do that.
mettle
It's the first real test of his mettle this season.
boldness
spunk (informal)
I admired her independence and her spunk.
intrepidity
hardihood
developing hardihood of body
ballsiness (taboo, slang)
Additional synonyms
in the sense of backbone
Definition
strength of character
You might be taking drastic measures and you've got to have the backbone to do that.
Synonyms
strength of character,
will,
balls (taboo, slang),
character,
bottle (British, slang),
resolution,
resolve,
nerve,
daring,
courage,
determination,
guts,
pluck,
stamina,
grit,
bravery,
fortitude,
toughness,
tenacity,
willpower,
mettle,
boldness,
firmness,
spunk (informal),
fearlessness,
steadfastness,
moral fibre,
hardihood,
ballsiness (taboo, slang),
dauntlessness
in the sense of bottle
Definition
courage
Will anyone have the bottle to go through with it?
Synonyms
nerve,
will,
daring,
courage,
determination,
guts (informal),
face (informal),
balls (taboo, slang),
spirit,
resolution,
pluck,
grit,
bravery,
fortitude,
coolness,
mettle,
firmness,
spunk (informal),
fearlessness,
steadfastness,
intrepidity,
hardihood,
gameness,
ballsiness (taboo, slang)
in the sense of bravery
You deserve the highest praise for your bravery.
Synonyms
courage,
nerve,
daring,
pluck,
balls (taboo, slang),
spirit,
bottle (British, slang),
guts (informal),
grit,
fortitude,
heroism,
mettle,
boldness,
bravura,
gallantry,
valour,
spunk (informal),
hardiness,
fearlessness,
intrepidity,
indomitability,
hardihood,
ballsiness (taboo, slang),
dauntlessness,
doughtiness,
pluckiness,
lion-heartedness
Nearby words of
pluck
plough through something
plover
ploy
pluck
plucky
plug
plug away
Synonyms of 'pluck'
pluck
Explore 'pluck' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of catch
Definition
to seize and hold
I jumped up to catch the ball and fell over.
Synonyms
seize,
get,
grab,
snatch
in the sense of clutch
Definition
to seize with or as if with hands or claws
I staggered and had to clutch at a chair for support.
Synonyms
seize,
catch,
grab,
grasp,
snatch
in the sense of collect
Definition
to receive payments of (taxes, dues, or contributions)
They collected donations for a fund to help the earthquake victims.
Synonyms
raise,
secure,
gather,
obtain,
acquire,
muster,
solicit
in the sense of determination
Definition
the condition of being determined
They acted with great courage and determination.
Synonyms
resolution,
purpose,
resolve,
drive,
energy,
conviction,
courage,
dedication,
backbone,
fortitude,
persistence,
tenacity,
perseverance,
willpower,
boldness,
firmness,
staying power,
stubbornness,
strength of character,
constancy,
single-mindedness,
earnestness,
obstinacy,
steadfastness,
doggedness,
relentlessness,
strength of will,
resoluteness,
indomitability,
staunchness
in the sense of draw
Definition
to choose or be given by lottery
We drew the winning name.
Synonyms
choose,
pick,
select,
take,
single out
in the sense of gather
Definition
to pick or harvest (crops)
The people lived by fishing, gathering nuts and fruits, and hunting.
Synonyms
pick,
harvest,
pluck,
reap,
garner,
glean
in the sense of grit
Definition
courage and determination
He showed grit and determination in his fight back to health.
Synonyms
courage,
spirit,
resolution,
determination,
nerve,
guts (informal),
balls (vulgar, slang),
pluck,
backbone,
fortitude,
toughness,
tenacity,
perseverance,
mettle,
doggedness,
hardihood,
gameness
in the sense of hardihood
Definition
courage or daring
developing hardihood of body
Synonyms
courage,
spirit,
strength,
bottle (British, slang),
resolution,
nerve,
daring,
determination,
guts (informal),
pluck,
grit,
bravery,
backbone,
mettle,
boldness,
firmness,
spunk (informal),
intrepidity
in the sense of harvest
Definition
to gather (a ripened crop)
Many farmers are refusing to harvest the sugar cane.
Synonyms
gather,
pick,
collect,
bring in,
pluck,
reap
in the sense of heart
Definition
courage or spirit
I did not have the heart or spirit left to jog back to my hotel.
Synonyms
courage,
will,
spirit,
mind,
balls (taboo, slang),
purpose,
bottle (British, informal),
resolution,
resolve,
nerve,
stomach,
enthusiasm,
determination,
guts (informal),
spine,
pluck,
bravery,
backbone,
fortitude,
mettle,
boldness,
spunk (informal)
Additional synonyms
in the sense of intrepidity
Synonyms
fearlessness,
spirit,
nerve,
daring,
courage,
guts (informal),
pluck,
grit,
bravery,
fortitude,
prowess,
heroism,
audacity,
boldness,
gallantry,
valour,
dauntlessness,
doughtiness,
lion-heartedness,
stoutheartedness
in the sense of mettle
Definition
courage or spirit
It's the first real test of his mettle this season.
Synonyms
courage,
spirit,
resolution,
resolve,
life,
heart,
fire,
balls (taboo, slang),
bottle (British, slang),
nerve,
daring,
guts (informal),
pluck,
grit,
bravery,
fortitude,
vigour,
boldness,
gallantry,
ardour,
valour,
spunk (informal),
indomitability,
hardihood,
gameness
in the sense of nerve
Definition
bravery and determination
I never got up enough nerve to tell him he was wrong.If we keep our nerve, we might be able to bluff it out.
Synonyms
bravery,
courage,
spirit,
bottle (British, slang),
resolution,
daring,
determination,
guts (informal),
pluck,
grit,
fortitude,
vigour,
coolness,
balls (vulgar, slang),
mettle,
firmness,
spunk (informal),
fearlessness,
steadfastness,
intrepidity,
hardihood,
gameness,
ballsiness (taboo, slang),
will,
endurance
in the sense of pick
Definition
to gather (fruit, berries, or crops) from (a tree, bush, or field)
He helped his mother pick fruit.
Synonyms
gather,
cut,
pull,
collect,
take in,
harvest,
pluck,
garner,
cull
in the sense of resolution
Definition
firmness or determination
He implemented policy with resolution and single-mindedness.
Synonyms
determination,
energy,
purpose,
resolve,
courage,
dedication,
fortitude,
sincerity,
tenacity,
perseverance,
willpower,
boldness,
firmness,
staying power,
stubbornness,
constancy,
earnestness,
obstinacy,
steadfastness,
doggedness,
relentlessness,
resoluteness,
staunchness
in the sense of snatch
Definition
to seize or grasp (something) suddenly
He snatched the telephone from me.
Synonyms
grab,
seize,
wrench,
wrest,
take,
grip,
grasp,
clutch,
take hold of
in the sense of spirit
She was a very brave girl and everyone admired her spirit.
Synonyms
courage,
guts (informal),
grit,
balls (vulgar, slang),
backbone,
spunk (informal),
gameness,
ballsiness (slang),
dauntlessness,
stoutheartedness
in the sense of spunk
Definition
courage or spirit
I admired her independence and her spunk.
Synonyms
courage,
spirit,
nerve,
balls (taboo, slang),
bottle (British, slang),
resolution,
guts (informal),
pluck,
grit,
backbone,
toughness,
mettle,
gumption (informal),
gameness,
ballsiness (taboo, slang)
in the sense of tweak
Definition
to twist or pinch with a sharp or sudden movement
He tweaked my ear roughly.
Synonyms
twist,
pull,
pinch,
jerk,
squeeze,
nip,
twitch
in the sense of yank
Definition
to pull (someone or something) with a sharp movement