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View synonyms for

pick-up

noun

  1. Also calledpick-up armtone arm the light balanced arm of a record player that carries the wires from the cartridge to the preamplifier
  2. an electromagnetic transducer that converts the vibrations of the steel strings of an electric guitar or other amplified instrument into electric signals
  3. another name for cartridge
  4. Also calledpick-up truck a small truck with an open body and low sides, used for light deliveries
  5. informal.
    an ability to accelerate rapidly

    this car has good pick-up

  6. informal.
    a casual acquaintance, usually one made with sexual intentions
  7. informal.
    1. a stop to collect passengers, goods, etc
    2. the people or things collected
  8. slang.
    a free ride in a motor vehicle
  9. informal.
    an improvement
  10. slang.
    a pick-me-up
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


adjective

  1. organized, arranged, or assembled hastily and without planning

    pick-up games

    a pick-up band

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. tr to gather up in the hand or hands
  2. tr to acquire, obtain, or purchase casually, incidentally, etc
  3. tr to catch (a disease)

    she picked up a bad cold during the weekend

  4. intr to improve in health, condition, activity, etc

    the market began to pick up

  5. reflexive to raise (oneself) after a fall or setback
  6. tr to notice or sense

    she picked up a change in his attitude

  7. to resume where one left off; return to

    we'll pick up after lunch

    they picked up the discussion

  8. tr to learn gradually or as one goes along
  9. tr to take responsibility for paying (a bill)

    he picked up the bill for dinner

  10. informal.
    tr to reprimand

    he picked her up on her table manners

  11. tr to collect or give a lift to (passengers, hitchhikers, goods, etc)
  12. informal.
    tr to become acquainted with, esp with a view to having sexual relations
  13. informal.
    tr to arrest
  14. to increase (speed)

    the cars picked up down the straight

  15. tr to receive (electrical signals, a radio signal, sounds, etc), as for transmission or amplification
  16. pick up the pieces
    to restore a situation to normality after a crisis or collapse
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Locked away for life, he’s picked up his old coping mechanism, dissociating by escaping into books, and he’s seething inside.

From

In the past, the Supreme Court has made clear that during wartime the government can detain indefinitely people who were picked up on the battlefield.

From

Private buyers or public entities such as Los Angeles County have picked up some downtown office towers at “huge discounts” compared with what it would cost to erect similar new buildings, Zanetos said.

From

Sherelle made the prediction for the first game, Manchester City's win over Aston Villa on Tuesday and picked up 40 points for the guests' overall total with an exact score.

From

One of the suspected gunmen was not picked up, despite being connected to the attack by witness evidence and four separate pieces of intelligence.

From

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