Background for picking

picking

/ˈpɪkɪŋ/

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verb

To grasp and pull with the fingers or fingernails.

Examples :

"She was picking lint off her sweater. "

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verb

To harvest a fruit or vegetable for consumption by removing it from the plant to which it is attached; to harvest an entire plant by removing it from the ground.

Examples :

"The farmer was picking tomatoes from the vine. "

agriculture fruit vegetable plant food

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verb

To pull apart or away, especially with the fingers; to pluck.

Examples :

"She picked flowers in the meadow."

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verb

To take up; especially, to gather from here and there; to collect; to bring together.

Examples :

"to pick rags"

action process agriculture work

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verb

To remove something from somewhere with a pointed instrument, with the fingers, or with the teeth.

Examples :

"to pick the teeth; to pick a bone; to pick a goose; to pick a pocket"

action body utensil

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verb

To decide upon, from a set of options; to select.

Examples :

""She is picking a book to read from the library shelf." "

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verb

To seek (a fight or quarrel) where the opportunity arises.

Examples :

"The bully was always picking fights with the smaller kids on the playground. "

attitude action character tendency

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verb

To recognise the type of ball being bowled by a bowler by studying the position of the hand and arm as the ball is released.

Examples :

"The experienced batter was adept at picking the leg-spinner's googly by watching the subtle twist of the wrist just before release. "

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verb

To pluck the individual strings of a musical instrument or to play such an instrument.

Examples :

"He picked a tune on his banjo."

music entertainment

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verb

To open (a lock) with a wire, lock pick, etc.

Examples :

"The thief was caught on camera picking the lock to the jewelry store. "

property police action

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verb

To eat slowly, sparingly, or by morsels; to nibble.

Examples :

"She wasn't very hungry, so she was just picking at her salad during lunch. "

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verb

To do anything fastidiously or carefully, or by attending to small things; to select something with care.

Examples :

"I gingerly picked my way between the thorny shrubs."

action quality way

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verb

To steal; to pilfer.

Examples :

"Someone was picking fruit from Mrs. Green's garden when she wasn't looking. "

property action police law

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verb

To throw; to pitch.

Examples :

"He was picking stones into the river. "

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verb

To peck at, as a bird with its beak; to strike at with anything pointed; to act upon with a pointed instrument; to pierce; to prick, as with a pin.

Examples :

"The chicken was busily picking at the seeds scattered on the ground. "

action animal bird utensil

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verb

To separate or open by means of a sharp point or points.

Examples :

"to pick matted wool, cotton, oakum, etc."

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verb

Examples :

"The teacher is picking the best students for the school talent show. "

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noun

A gathering to pick fruit.

Examples :

"We went to a strawberry picking last June."

fruit agriculture plant event

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noun

(usually pluralized) Items remaining after others have selected the best; scraps, as of food.

Examples :

"After the party, the children fought over the pickings of leftover candy from the piñata. "

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noun

(usually pluralized) Income or other gains, especially if obtained in an unscrupulous or objectionable manner.

Examples :

"The politician was accused of taking kickbacks and other pickings from government contracts. "

economy finance business moral value

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noun

Something picked or pulled out.

Examples :

"The schoolboy flicked his nose pickings across the classroom."

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noun

The act of making a choice; selection.

Examples :

"The picking of the winning lottery numbers is always a highly anticipated event. "

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noun

The final finishing of woven fabrics by removing burs, etc.

Examples :

"After weaving the blanket, the picking removed all the stray fibers, leaving a smooth and comfortable surface. "

material process industry

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noun

The removal of defects from electrotype plates.

Examples :

"The printing shop foreman ordered a halt to production until the picking of imperfections on the electrotype plates was completed. "

technical industry work machine

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noun

Dabbing in stoneworking.

Examples :

"The mason used careful picking to add texture to the stone wall. "

architecture building work