n. 25B6; verb
I got a job picking apples : HARVEST, gather (in), collect, pluck; poetic/literary cull.
pick the time that suits you best : CHOOSE, select, pick out, single out, take, opt for, plump for, elect, decide on, settle on, fix on, sift out, sort out; name, nominate.
Beth picked at her food : NIBBLE, toy with, play with, eat like a bird.
people were singing and picking guitars : STRUM, twang, thrum, pluck.
he tried to pick a fight : PROVOKE, start, cause, incite, stir up, whip up, instigate, prompt, bring about.
25B6; noun
take your pick : CHOICE, selection, option, decision; preference, favourite.
the pick of the crop : BEST, finest, top, choice, choicest, prime, cream, flower, prize, pearl, gem, jewel, jewel in the crown, crème de la crème, elite.
25A0; pick on BULLY, victimize, tyrannize, torment, persecute, criticize, harass, hound, taunt, tease; informal get at, have it in for, have a down on, be down on, needle.
25A0; pick something out
one painting was picked out for special mention : CHOOSE, select, pick, single out, opt for, plump for, decide on, elect, settle on, fix on, sift out, sort out; name, nominate.
she picked out Jessica in the crowd : SEE, make out, distinguish, discern, spot, perceive, detect, notice, recognize, identify, catch sight of, glimpse; poetic/literary espy, behold, descry.
25A0; pick up IMPROVE, recover, be on the road to recovery, rally, make a comeback, bounce back, perk up, look up, take a turn for the better, turn the/a corner, be on the mend, make headway, make progress.
25A0; pick someone/something up LIFT, take up, raise, hoist, scoop up, gather up, snatch up.
25A0; pick someone up
I'll pick you up after lunch : FETCH, collect, call for.
(informal) he was picked up by the police : ARREST, apprehend, detain, take into custody, seize; informal nab, run in, bust; Brit. informal nick.
(informal) he picked her up in a club : TAKE UP WITH; informal get off with, pull, cop off with.
25A0; pick something up
we picked it up at a flea market : FIND, discover, come across, stumble across, happen on, chance on; acquire, obtain, come by, get, procure; purchase, buy; informal get hold of, get/lay one's hands on, get one's mitts on, bag, land.
he picked up the story in the 1950s : RESUME, take up, start again, recommence, continue, carry on with, go on with.
she picked up a virus : CATCH, contract, get, go/come down with.
he told us the bits of gossip he'd picked up : HEAR, hear tell, get wind of, be told, learn; glean, garner.
we're picking up a distress signal : RECEIVE, detect, get, hear.