I. ˈplək verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English plucken, from Old English pluccian; akin to Middle Dutch plucken, plocken to pluck, Middle High German pflücken, pflocken; all probably from a prehistoric West Germanic word borrowed from (assumed) Vulgar Latin piluccare to pick, clean — more at plush
transitive verb
1. : to pull or pick off or out : gather by picking
pluck feathers from a fowl
pluck grapes
2. : to remove something from by or as if picking or pulling off or out: as
a.
(1) : to so remove a natural covering (as of feathers, hair, or wool) from the body of
pluck a chicken before cleaning
also : to trim the hair of (a dog) with a stripping knife
(2) : to free (a pelt) from guard hairs in processing
(3) : to shape (an eyebrow) by pulling some of the hairs
b. : rob , plunder , fleece
3.
a. : to move or separate forcibly (as by pulling, dragging, snatching) — used with adverbs expressive of direction (as out, from, down, apart )
plucked the map down from the wall
plucking the portiere aside
plucked him back from danger
b.
(1) : to tear down : demolish — usually used with down
the chapel was plucked down by the inhabitants of the village
(2) : to make humble : bring low — usually used with down
c. : to tear to pieces : pull apart : dissever , rive
a violent wind plucked the sails to bits
4.
a. : to handle with a picking or pulling motion
a sick child plucking at the bedclothes
especially : to pull sharply or with sudden force
plucked the strings of his guitar
b. : to seize (as a person) by a part of the body or clothing
plucked him by the sleeve to catch his attention
c. : to make (as a musical instrument) sound by plucking
5.
a. Britain : to reject (as a candidate for a degree or position) for some deficiency or misdemeanor (as for failure to satisfactorily pass an examination)
expected to be plucked on his tripos
b. : to select (a military officer) for involuntary retirement
plucked after 20 years of service and sent into involuntary retirement
c. : to remove (a person) from one situation in life and transfer him to another
plucked from his prosaic routine by the draft
especially : to draft from a position of lesser to one of greater responsibility
the convention plucked him from the pastorate to head the foreign mission board
6. of a glacier : to break loose and bear away (solid rock) in large masses — compare abrade
intransitive verb
1.
a. : drag
b. obsolete : grab , steal
c. : pick vi 5
a paper that plucks badly
2. : to make a sharp pull or twitch : tug — usually used with at
plucking at the folds of her skirt
II. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, from plucken, v.
1.
a. : an act of plucking or pulling ; especially : a quick or sudden and forcible pull (as a twitch, tug, or jerk)
b. obsolete : set-to : bout , go
2.
a. : the heart, liver, lungs, and windpipe of a slaughtered animal especially as an item of food
b. : the corresponding parts of a human cadaver
3. : something that is plucked or used in plucking
spun out a small pluck of wool
lost the pluck for his ukelele
4. : spirit , courage , resolution , nerve
5. : the condition of being plucked ; especially Britain : failure in an examination
6. : distinctness , sharpness , boldness — used of a picture, drawing, or photograph
Synonyms: see fortitude