What is pick? Pronunciation and usage in English

pick means . Learn how to pronounce and use pick through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of pick

pickverb

/pɪk/
Definition & pronunciation of pick

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "pick." It's a tricky one because it's often mispronounced! Here's a breakdown:

The Correct Pronunciation:

  • ˈpɪk (stress on the first syllable)

Let's break it down further:

  • "P": Pronounced like the "p" in "pen."
  • "i": Pronounced like the "i" in "bit." (short 'i' sound)
  • "ck": This is the tricky part! The "ck" sound is pronounced like the "k" in "kite."

Putting it together: It sounds like "pick" – quick and sharp!

Common Mispronunciations & Why They're Wrong:

  • "pick" (with stress on the second syllable): This is a very common mistake. It doesn't sound right and makes the word sound awkward.
  • "pik" (without the 'i'): This is also incorrect.

Tips for Saying it Right:

  • Short "i": Really emphasize that "i" sound as a short "i," not a long "ee" sound.
  • Listen to Native Speakers: The best way to learn is to hear it! Here are some resources:
    • Google Translate: Type "pick" into Google Translate and click the speaker icon.
    • Forvo: https://forvo.com/word/pick/ - This website has pronunciations from native speakers around the world.
    • YouTube: Search for "how to pronounce pick" on YouTube and you'll find many videos demonstrating the correct pronunciation.

Do you want me to:

  • Repeat the pronunciation?
  • Give you some example sentences using the word "pick"?

Usage and examples with the word pick in English

Let's break down how to use the word "pick" in English. It's a surprisingly versatile word with many different meanings and uses! Here's a categorized breakdown:

1. As a Verb – Choosing or Selecting

  • To choose something carefully: This is probably the most common meaning.

    • “I need to pick a restaurant for dinner.”
    • “She picked a beautiful red rose.”
    • “He picked the right candidate for the job.”
    • “Which flavor of ice cream should I pick?”

  • To select for a specific purpose:

    • “The farmer picked the ripe apples from the tree.” (Selection for harvest)
    • “The detective picked up subtle clues at the scene.” (Selection based on importance)

2. As a Verb – To Grab or Lift (Something Small)

  • To grab something quickly:

    • “He picked up the pen from the floor.”
    • “She picked a grape from the vine.”

  • To lift with the fingers: (Often with a slight upward motion)

    • “She picked her nose.” (Informal and potentially impolite!)
    • “He picked the child up and held him.”

3. As a Verb – To Find or Discover

  • To discover something:
    • "I picked up a fascinating article about history." (Meaning you found it)
    • "She picked up the details of the plan." (Meaning she uncovered them)

4. As a Verb – To Collect (Often Something Natural)

  • To gather something naturally occurring:
    • “The gardener picked berries.”
    • “They picked wildflowers to decorate the house.”
    • “The foragers picked mushrooms in the forest.”

5. As a Verb – To Make a Sound (Specifically, a Musical Note)

  • In music, to play a note on an instrument:
    • “The pianist picked a high note.”
    • “The guitarist picked his banjo.”

6. As a Noun – An Act of Selecting

  • The act of choosing:
    • "He made a good pick." (Meaning he made a good choice)
    • "It was a clever pick for the location of the new store."

7. As a Noun – Something Small and Round (Often Fruit or Vegetables)

  • A small, often round, piece of fruit or vegetable: (This is less common in modern usage)
    • “He ate a pick of cherries.” (Meaning he ate a few cherries)

Tips for Using "Pick" Correctly:

  • Context is Key: The meaning of “pick” depends heavily on the context of the sentence.
  • Pronunciation: Pay attention to how it's pronounced: “pik” (as in “pickles”) vs. “pick” (as in “picked”).

Resources for More Examples:

To help me give you even more targeted advice, could you tell me:

  • What kind of situation are you thinking about using "pick" in? (e.g., a conversation, writing a story, a specific topic like music?)

Synonyms for the word pick

Idioms of the word pick

have a bone to pick with somebody
(informal)to be angry with somebody about something and want to discuss it with them
    pick and choose
    to choose only those things that you like or want very much
    • You have to take any job you can get—you can't pick and choose.
    pick somebody’s brains
    (informal)to ask somebody a lot of questions about something because they know more about the subject than you do
    • I need to pick your brains: what can you tell me about credit unions?
    pick a fight/quarrel (with somebody)
    to deliberately start a fight or an argument with somebody
    • He had drunk too much and was ready to pick a fight with anyone who crossed his path.
    • She tried to pick a quarrel with me.
    pick holes in something
    to find the weak points in something such as a plan, suggestion, etc.
    • It was easy to pick holes in his arguments.
    pick a lock
    to open a lock without a key, using something such as a piece of wire
    • The burglars must have picked the lock on the back door.
    pick somebody’s pocket
    to steal something from somebody’s pocket without them noticing
    • The back pocket on a pair of jeans is the easiest one to pick.
    pick/pull/tear somebody/something to pieces/shreds
    (informal)to criticize somebody, or their work or ideas, very severely
      pick/pull/tear somebody/something to pieces/shreds
      (informal)to criticize somebody, or their work or ideas, very severely
      • Their case was torn to shreds by the defence lawyer.
      pick up the bill, tab, etc. (for something)
      (informal)to pay for something
      • The company picked up the tab for his hotel room.
      • The government will continue to pick up college fees for some students.
      pick up the pieces
      to return or to help somebody return to a normal situation, particularly after a shock or a disaster
      • You cannot live your children's lives for them; you can only be there to pick up the pieces when things go wrong.
      pick up speed
      to go faster
      • The train began to pick up speed.
      pick up the threads
      to return to an earlier situation or way of life after a period doing something else
        pick your way (across, along, among, over, through something)
        to walk carefully, choosing the safest, driest, etc. place to put your feet
        • She picked her way delicately over the rough ground.
        • We picked our way carefully over the jagged rocks.
        pick a winner
        to choose a horse, etc. that you think is most likely to win a race
        • He's very good at picking winners.
        (informal)to make a very good choice
          ripe for the picking
          offering somebody an ideal opportunity to gain an advantage
          • This is an opportunity ripe for the picking.
          • The Raiders' defense is ripe for the picking.

          Practice with vocabulary pick

          Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

          1. After careful deliberation, the committee decided to ______ Dr. Lee for the leadership role.
          2. Please ______ up your belongings before leaving the lecture hall.
          3. We need to ______ all the necessary information from the database for the report.
          4. It's essential to ______ the most cost-effective solution for the project.

          Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

          1. The project manager asked the team to ______ a suitable date for the next client meeting. a) elect b) pick c) decide d) select

          2. After living abroad for a year, he quickly ______ the local dialect. a) picked up b) acquired c) learned d) mastered

          3. From the numerous applicants, it was challenging to ______ the most qualified candidate. a) pick out b) distinguish c) choose d) identify

          4. To ensure clarity, you should ______ the most relevant data points for your analysis. a) isolate b) highlight c) emphasize d) extract

          5. Given the circumstances, we had no option but to ______ the less favorable alternative. a) elect b) choose c) opt for d) select

          Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

          1. Original: It was difficult to identify the most significant findings from the extensive research. Rewrite using "pick": __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Answers:

          Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

          1. pick
          2. pick
          3. gather (or collect)
          4. select (or choose)

          Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

          1. b) pick, d) select
          2. a) picked up, b) acquired, c) learned, d) mastered
          3. a) pick out, b) distinguish, c) choose, d) identify
          4. a) isolate, b) highlight, c) emphasize, d) extract
          5. a) elect, b) choose, c) opt for, d) select

          Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

          1. Original: It was difficult to identify the most significant findings from the extensive research. Rewrite using "pick": It was difficult to pick out the most significant findings from the extensive research.

          2. Original: The intern was asked to collect all the feedback forms from the participants. Rewrite using "pick": The intern was asked to pick up all the feedback forms from the participants.

          3. Original: The team decided to select an entirely new strategy for market penetration. Rewrite using a suitable replacement word (not "pick"): The team decided to adopt an entirely new strategy for market penetration. (Other suitable words: implement, formulate, opt for)

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