Language: en
Meaning: (transitive)Toremovebypicking.c.1515–1516(date written; published1568),John Skelton, “Against Venemous Tongues Enpoysoned with Sclaunder and False Detractions, &c.”, inAlexander Dyce, editor,The Poetical Works of John Skelton:[…], volume I, London:Thomas Rodd,[…], published1843,→OCLC:But lering and lurking here and there like ſpies, / The devil tere their tunges andpike outtheir ies!1859,Charles Dickens,A Tale of Two Cities, London:Chapman and Hall,[…],→OCLC:Madame Defarge herselfpicked outthe pattern on her sleeve with her toothpick, and saw and heard something inaudible and invisible a long way off.; (transitive)Toselect.1759,William Robertson, “Book I. Containing a Review of the Scotch History previous to the Death ofJames V.”, inThe History of Scotland, during the Reigns ofQueen Maryand ofKing James VI, till His Accession to the Crown of England.[…], volume I, London:[…]A[ndrew]Millar[…],→OCLC,page 4:Theſe broken fragments,John de Fordun, vvho lived in the fourteenth century, collected vvith a pious induſtry, and from thempicked outmaterials, vvhich he formed into a regular hiſtory.2007, Letticia,Body Worship, page192:Very often husbands would patronise my boutique andpick outsomething for the little lady and, in passing,pick outsomething for themselves.2014November 2, Daniel Taylor, “Sergio Agüero strike wins derby for Manchester City against 10-man United”, inguardian.co.uk[1]:Oliver had an erratic and often bewildering afternoon and, just topick outone incident, the images of Joe Hart putting his forehead uncomfortably close to the official are certainly far from the norm.; (transitive,idiomatic)Todistinguish;discern.1988April 30, “Bonaventure Island a birdwatcher's delight 50,000 gannets jostle and spar for a piece of the island”, inToronto Star[2], archived fromthe originalon30 June 2013:The young birds cry out for food, and the parents returning from the sea manage topick outtheir own amid a mass of lookalikes.; (transitive)To ornament or relieve with lines etc. of a different, usually lighter, colour.a dark green carriage bodypicked outwith red1911April 22,G[ilbert] K[eith] Chesterton, “The Sins of Prince Saradine”, inThe Innocence of Father Brown, London; New York, N.Y.:Cassell and Company, published1911,→OCLC:Away on the farthest cape or headland of the long islet, on a strip of turf beyond the last rank of roses, the duellists had already crossed swords. Evening above them was a dome of virgin gold, and, distant as they were, every detail waspicked out.; (transitive,idiomatic)Todetectusing one's senses (sight, smell, hearing, touch, taste).1925,F[rancis] Scott Fitzgerald,The Great Gatsby, New York, N.Y.:Charles Scribner’s Sons, published1953,→ISBN,→OCLC:And as I sat there brooding on the old, unknown world, I thought of Gatsby's wonder when he firstpicked outthe green light at the end of Daisy's dock.; (transitive,idiomatic,soccer)To send a longpassorcrossto.2006December 26, “Bolton Wanderers vs Newcastle United”, in4TheGame[3], archived fromthe originalon14 April 2008:Ameobi skipped away down the left in the 39th minute and tried topick outShearer with a cross but his delivery was cut out by goalkeeper Jussi J...; (transitive)To play music slowly, such as when practicing.
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