To pick up

Pick \Pick\ (p[i^]k), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Picked} (p[i^]kt); p.
   pr. & vb. n. {Picking}.] [OE. picken, pikken, to prick, peck;
   akin to Icel. pikka, Sw. picka, Dan. pikke, D. pikken, G.
   picken, F. piquer, W. pigo. Cf. {Peck}, v., {Pike}, {Pitch}
   to throw.]
   1. To throw; to pitch. [Obs.]
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            As high as I could pick my lance.     --Shak.
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   2. 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.
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   3. To separate or open by means of a sharp point or points;
      as, to pick matted wool, cotton, oakum, etc.
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   4. To open (a lock) as by a wire.
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   5. To pull apart or away, especially with the fingers; to
      pluck; to gather, as fruit from a tree, flowers from the
      stalk, feathers from a fowl, etc.
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   6. To remove something from with a pointed instrument, with
      the fingers, or with the teeth; as, to pick the teeth; to
      pick a bone; to pick a goose; to pick a pocket.
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            Did you pick Master Slender's purse?  --Shak.
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            He picks clean teeth, and, busy as he seems
            With an old tavern quill, is hungry yet. --Cowper.
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   7. To choose; to select; to separate as choice or desirable;
      to cull; as, to pick one's company; to pick one's way; --
      often with out. "One man picked out of ten thousand."
      --Shak.
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   8. To take up; esp., to gather from here and there; to
      collect; to bring together; as, to pick rags; -- often
      with up; as, to pick up a ball or stones; to pick up
      information.
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   9. To trim. [Obs.] --Chaucer.
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   {To pick at}, to tease or vex by pertinacious annoyance.

   {To pick a bone with}. See under {Bone}.

   {To pick a thank}, to curry favor. [Obs.] --Robynson (More's
      Utopia).

   {To pick off}.
      (a) To pluck; to remove by picking.
      (b) To shoot or bring down, one by one; as, sharpshooters
          pick off the enemy.

   {To pick out}.
      (a) To mark out; to variegate; as, to pick out any dark
          stuff with lines or spots of bright colors.
      (b) To select from a number or quantity.

   {To pick to pieces}, to pull apart piece by piece; hence
      [Colloq.], to analyze; esp., to criticize in detail.

   {To pick a quarrel}, to give occasion of quarrel
      intentionally.

   {To pick up}.
      (a) To take up, as with the fingers.
      (b) To get by repeated efforts; to gather here and there;
          as, to pick up a livelihood; to pick up news.
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Pick \Pick\, v. i.
   1. To eat slowly, sparingly, or by morsels; to nibble.
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            Why stand'st thou picking? Is thy palate sore?
                                                  --Dryden.
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   2. To do anything nicely or carefully, or by attending to
      small things; to select something with care.
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   3. To steal; to pilfer. "To keep my hands from picking and
      stealing." --Book of Com. Prayer.
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   {To pick up}, to improve by degrees; as, he is picking up in
      health or business. [Colloq. U.S.]
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