ALL meanings of pick at
pick at
P p - verb with object pick at to choose or select from among a group: to pick a contestant from the audience. 1
- verb with object pick at to seek and find occasion for; provoke: to pick a fight. 1
- verb with object pick at to attempt to find; seek out: to pick flaws in an argument. 1
- verb with object pick at to steal the contents of: Her pocket was picked yesterday. 1
- verb with object pick at to open (a lock) with a device other than the key, as a sharp instrument or wire, especially for the purpose of burglary. 1
- verb with object pick at to pierce, indent, dig into, or break up (something) with a pointed instrument: to pick rock; to pick ore. 1
- verb with object pick at to form (a hole) by such action: to pick a hole in asphalt. 1
- verb with object pick at to use a pointed instrument, the fingers, the teeth, the beak, etc., on (a thing), in order to remove or loosen something, as a small part or adhering matter: to pick one's teeth. 1
- verb with object pick at to prepare for use by removing a covering piece by piece, as feathers, hulls, or other parts: to pick a fowl. 1
- verb with object pick at to detach or remove piece by piece with the fingers: She picked the meat from the bones. 1
- verb with object pick at to pluck or gather one by one: to pick flowers. 1
- verb with object pick at (of birds or other animals) to take up (small bits of food) with the bill or teeth. 1
- verb with object pick at to eat daintily or in small morsels. 1
- verb with object pick at to separate, pull apart, or pull to pieces: to pick fibers. 1
- verb with object pick at Music. to pluck (the strings of an instrument). to play (a stringed instrument) by plucking with the fingers. 1
- verb without object pick at to strike with or use a pick or other pointed instrument on something. 1
- verb without object pick at (of birds or other animals) to take up small bits of food with the bill or teeth: The hens were busily picking about in their coop. 1
- verb without object pick at to select carefully or fastidiously. 1
- verb without object pick at to pilfer; steal. 1
- verb without object pick at to pluck or gather fruit, flowers, etc. 1
- verb without object pick at Basketball. to execute a pick. 1
- noun pick at the act of choosing or selecting; choice; selection: to take one's pick. 1
- noun pick at a person or thing that is selected: He is our pick for president. 1
- noun pick at the choicest or most desirable part, example, or examples: This horse is the pick of the stable. 1
- noun pick at the right of selection: He gave me my pick of the litter. 1
- noun pick at the quantity of a crop picked, as from trees, bushes, etc., at a particular time: The pick was poor this season. 1
- noun pick at Printing. a speck of dirt, hardened ink, or extra metal on set type or a plate. a small area removed from the surface of a coated paper by ink that adheres to the form. 1
- noun pick at a stroke with something pointed: The rock shattered at the first pick of the ax. 1
- noun pick at Basketball. an offensive maneuver in which a player moves into a position between a defender and a teammate with the ball so as to prevent the defender from interfering with the shot. Compare pick-and-roll. 1
- idioms pick at pick and choose, to be very careful or particular in choosing: With such a limited supply of fresh fruit, you won't be able to pick and choose. 1
- idioms pick at pick apart, to criticize severely or in great detail: They picked her apart the moment she left the room. 1
- idioms pick at pick it up, Informal. to move, work, etc., at a faster rate. 1
- idioms pick at pick one's way / steps, to walk with care and deliberation: She picked her way across the muddy field. 1
- idioms pick at pick someone's brains. brain (def 12). 1
- transitivephrasal verb pick at find fault with 1
- phrasal verb pick at If you pick at the food that you are eating, you eat only very small amounts of it. 0
- verb pick at to make criticisms of in a niggling or petty manner 0
- noun pick at to eat small portions of, esp. in a dainty or fussy manner 0
- noun pick at to nag at; find fault with 0
- noun pick at to toy or meddle with; finger 0