Picking
'pɪkɪŋ
Definitions
3 meaningsThe act of choosing or selecting something from a group.
'pɪkɪŋ
To select or choose something.
She is picking out her outfit for the party.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're at an ice cream shop. Picking your favorite flavor is 'picking'! Like, 'I'm picking chocolate!'
👶 For kids: Choosing something!
More Examples
He was picking a good movie to watch.
The students were picking their partners for the project.
How It's Used
"Picking apples from the tree"
"Picking a book to read at night"
To take away or separate a small piece from something, often with fingers.
'pɪkɪŋ
To remove something, especially small pieces, with fingers.
She was picking the petals off the flower.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're peeling a piece of fruit. 'Picking' is like taking off a little piece. 'I am picking the seeds from the melon'.
👶 For kids: Taking small things off something.
More Examples
He started picking at the loose thread.
The child was picking his nose.
How It's Used
"Picking lint off your sweater"
"Picking at a wound can cause infection."
To pluck at the strings of a musical instrument, usually a guitar, with fingers or a pick.
'pɪkɪŋ
To play a musical instrument (like a guitar) by plucking the strings.
She was picking a lovely melody on her acoustic guitar.
💡 Simply: If you play a guitar, you're often 'picking' the strings to make music, kind of like your fingers are dancing with the strings!
👶 For kids: Playing a guitar by pulling the strings!
More Examples
He loves picking country music on his banjo.
I'm picking through some music tunes.
How It's Used
"He was picking a tune on his guitar."
"Picking a musical piece at a concert."
Synonyms
Idioms & expressions
pick on
To criticize or treat someone unfairly, often repeatedly.
"The older kids kept picking on the younger ones at the playground."
pick and choose
To carefully select from a range of options.
"Customers can pick and choose the features they want in the new software."
From Middle English *pikken*, from Old English *pycian* (“to prick, pierce, pick”), from Proto-Germanic *pikkōną*. Cognate with Dutch *pikken*, German *picken*.
Used since Old English times, originally with the meaning of piercing or pricking. Evolution included its uses in selection and the removal of small pieces.
Memory tip
Think of the action of picking something up.