| 释义 |
pick
I. \ˈpik\ verb
(-ed/-ing/-s)
Etymology: Middle English piken, partly from Middle French piquer to prick, pick, pluck, strike & partly from (assumed) Old English pīcian to prick (whence Old English pīcung pricking); akin to Middle Dutch picken, pecken to prick, hoe, pick, Old Norse pikka to peck, hack — more at pike (weapon)
transitive verb
1. : to pierce, penetrate, or break up with a pointed instrument
< picking the hard clay >
< pick the surface of a millstone >
2. : to remove covering or adhering matter from bit by bit
< picked the bones clean >
specifically : to remove feathers from
< pick a goose >
3.
a. : to separate and remove with the fingers or fingertips : pluck
< picking flowers for the table >
b. : to take lightly, neatly, or selectively : cull
< picking only the ripest berries >
c. : to gather one by one or bit by bit
< pick apples >
< pick rags >
d. : to take needed sorts from (standing type)
< if you pick this form chalk the chase >
4. : to select from among a group : choose, name
< attempts to pick an exact synonym — Johnson O'Connor >
< tried to pick the shortest route >
< picked his way cautiously through the swamp >
< picked a winner in the next race >
5. : to take the contents of (as a pocket) by stealth
< suspected of picking pockets >
< skilled at picking the brains of his associates >
6. : to seek and find occasion for : provoke deliberately
< pick a quarrel >
7.
a. : to dig into or pull lightly at with fingertips or fingernails or a pointed instrument
< picking his teeth with a knife >
< picked the shoestring until it came untied >
b. : to pluck (the strings of a stringed musical instrument) with a plectrum or with the fingers to cause vibrations; also : to play music on (a stringed instrument)
< reputed to pick a mighty mean guitar — G.S.Perry >
c. : to loosen or pull apart with a sharp point
< pick wool >
< pick oakum >
8. : to turn (a lock) with a wire or a pointed tool instead of the key especially with intent to steal
9.
a. of a bird
(1) : to strike with the bill
< cruelly picked by the stronger chicks >
(2) : to take up (food) with the bill
b. : to eat sparingly or mincingly
10. : to cause (bits of the surface of paper) to stick to type and be pulled off — used of ink
11. : to finish (an edge of cloth) with a line of fine running stitches parallel to the edge
< pocket flaps picked by hand >
intransitive verb
1. : to use or work with a pick or pickax
2. : to gather something from a plant : harvest
< the picking season >
< fruit ripe for picking >
3. : pilfer, filch — used chiefly in the phrase picking and stealing
4.
a. of a bird : to strike or take things up with the bill
< chickens picking about the yard >
b. : to eat sparingly or mincingly : eat with little appetite
< picking listlessly at his dinner >
5. : to lose bits of the surface by adhesion to the inked form during printing — used of paper
•
- pick a hole in
- pick and choose
- pick at
- pick on
II. noun
(-s)
1. : a blow or stroke with a pointed instrument
2.
a. : the act of choosing or selecting : right or privilege of selection : choice
< had the pick of several jobs >
< here are several brands, take your pick >
b. : something that is or would be chosen first : the best or choicest part or member
< the pick of the herd >
< the pick of the rebel forces >
3. dialect
a. : the taking of a bit of food : peck
b. : a scanty meal
c. : a little bit : scrap
4. : the portion or quantity of a crop gathered at one time : picking
< biggest berry pick in several years >
< the first pick of peaches >
5. : something that is picked in with a point or pointed pencil
6.
a. : a particle (as of hardened ink, dirt, or paper) embedded in the hollow of a letter and causing a spot on a printed sheet; also : the spot so caused
b. : a burr on the face of a plate or cut or of newly cast type
c. : the tendency of paper to pick
7. : a maneuver (as in basketball) for cutting off a player from the play : screen
III. adjective
Etymology: pick (II)
: picked, best
< handed out the new guns to the pick rifle shots of his crew — F.B.Gipson >
IV. verb
(-ed/-ing/-s)
Etymology: Middle English pykken, alteration of picchen pitch, verb
transitive verb
1. obsolete : to set up or fix in place (as a tent)
2.
a. chiefly dialect : to throw or thrust with effort : hurl
< high as I could pick my lance — Shakespeare >
b. : pitch
< time to pick the hay >
3. dialect : to give birth to prematurely
4. : to throw (a shuttle) across the loom
intransitive verb
1. dialect England : to fall or topple forward
2. : to throw the shuttle across the loom
V. noun
(-s)
1. dialect England
a. : the act of pitching or throwing : cast
b. : something that is thrown
2.
a. : a throw of the shuttle — used especially in calculating the speed of a loom
< so many picks per minute >
b. : one filling thread — used especially in describing the fineness of a fabric
< so many picks to an inch >
VI. noun
(-s)
Etymology: Middle English pik, probably alteration of pike (I)
1. obsolete
a. : pike
b. : a sharp point : spike
2. : a heavy iron or steel tool pointed at one or both ends and often curved, wielded by means of a wooden handle inserted in an eye between the ends, and used by quarrymen, roadmakers, miners, and stonecutters
3. dialect Britain : any of various pointed or pronged implements: as
a. : pitchfork
b. : gaff
4. : a sharp-pointed instrument for picking: as
a. : toothpick
b. : picklock
c. : plectrum 1
5. dialect England : a diamond in playing cards
6. : one of the points on the forepart of a figure skate blade
 [pick 4c]
VII.
dialect
variant of pique
VIII. transitive verb
: to obtain useful information from by questioning — used in such phrases as pick the brains of
IX. noun
: a comb with long widely spaced teeth used to give height to a hairstyle |