I. ˈ ̷ ̷ˌ ̷ ̷ noun
( -s )
Etymology: pick up
1. : the act or process of picking up: as
a. : the taking aboard of passengers, freight, or mail by a carrier
b. : the taking on of a railway car by a train or of a barge by a tow
c. : revival of activity (as after a business slump) : improvement
d. : acceleration
e. : arrest
f. : the act of making a chance acquaintance
g. : the fielding or hitting of a ball just after it strikes the ground ; specifically : half volley
2.
a. : translation of mechanical movements into electrical impulses in the reproduction of sound
b. : the reception of sound in a radio transmitting apparatus for conversion into electrical energy
c. : the conversion of the image of a scene into electrical energy in the transmitting apparatus
3.
a. : a dance step consisting of a hop with a pullback
b. : a progressive accumulation of the other couples by the leading couple in square dancing
4. : something that is picked up: as
a. : an article (as a golf ball) found by chance
b. : an article or consignment taken up for shipment by a carrier
c. : a railway car, barge, trailer added to a train, tow, or tractor
d. : type matter saved for reuse with new copy
e.
(1) : a sum or balance brought forward on accounts or records especially in machine bookkeeping
(2) : the receipts collected from a single cash register or the total collected for a certain period
f. : material to be broadcast or telecast that originates outside the studio or station
the program was a live pickup from the theater
g. : an unaccented note or group of notes preceding the strong beat of the measure and beginning a musical phrase or composition : anacrusis
5. : someone who is picked up: as
a. : hitchhiker
b. : a chance and usually temporary companion or acquaintance
may pass the disease along to pickup , prostitute, or wife — H.V.Tooker
6. : something that picks up or is used for picking up: as
a. : brush III 3a
b. : a device (as a microphone or a thermocouple) that serves as a transducer between the source of vibrations (as of sound or heat) to be detected or measured and the part of the system that translates the collected signals into observable form ; especially : a device for converting record groove undulations into corresponding electrical voltages which may be amplified in an electrical phonograph
c. : the electrical system or arrangements for connecting to a broadcasting station or studio a radio or television program produced outside the studio
d. : the apparatus used for picking up images and sound for television transmission
the field pickup included four cameras
e. : an attachment to a harvester used for picking up grain or hay left in windrows by a swather for curing
7. or pickup truck : a light truck having an open body with low sides and tailboard mounted usually on a passenger car chassis
II. adjective
1. : picking up or used in picking up
pickup station
pickup tongs
2. : utilizing the available or convenient without prior planning
a pickup ballgame
leftovers enough for a pickup meal