" pick "

1: a person or thing that is chosen;

  * e.g., " ... that team is my pick to win the Super Bowl "

•  Synonyms : 

•  bet,

•  choice,

•  chosen,

•  selection

•  Antonyms : 

• (N/A)

2: individuals carefully selected as being the best of a class;

  * e.g., " ... the pick of the contestants will go on to the next competition "

•  Synonyms : 

•  A-list,

•  aristocracy,

•  best,

•  choice,

•  corps d'elite,

•  cream,

•  crème de la crème,

•  elect,

•  elite,

•  fat,

•  flower,

•  illuminati,

•  pink,

•  pride,

•  priesthood,

•  prime,

•  royalty,

•  upper crust

•  Antonyms : 

• (N/A)

3: the power, right, or opportunity to choose;

  * e.g., " ... you have first pick of your office mates for the softball team "

•  Synonyms : 

•  alternative,

•  choice,

•  discretion,

•  druthers,

•  election,

•  liberty,

•  option,

•  preference,

•  selection,

•  volition,

•  way

•  Antonyms : 

• (N/A)

1: something (such as a drink) that makes you feel better and more lively;

  * e.g., " ... Coffee is my usual morning pick-me-up. "

•  Synonyms : 

•  hand,

•  lift,

•  advantage,

•  aid,

•  asset,

•  benefit,

•  boon,

•  help,

•  plus,

•  boost,

•  encouragement,

•  goad,

•  impetus,

•  incentive,

•  incitation,

•  incitement,

•  instigation,

•  momentum,

•  motivation,

•  provocation,

•  spur,

•  stimulant,

•  stimulus,

•  yeast,

•  inducement,

•  catalyst,

•  catalyzer,

•  energizer,

•  fuel,

•  refresher,

•  spark,

•  support,

•  sustenance

•  Antonyms : 

•  constraint,

•  inhibitor,

•  liability,

•  obstacle,

•  obstruction,

•  restraint,

•  stranglehold,

•  counterincentive,

•  disincentive,

•  disadvantage,

•  drawback,

•  encumbrance,

•  hindrance,

•  impediment,

•  minus

1: to catch or collect (a crop or natural resource) for human use;

  * e.g., " ... pick peas and beans from the garden for dinner "

•  Synonyms : 

•  gather,

•  harvest,

•  reap

•  Antonyms : 

•  decline,

•  refuse,

•  reject,

•  turn down

2: to decide to accept (someone or something) from a group of possibilities;

  * e.g., " ... I pick you as my partner "

•  Synonyms : 

•  cherry-pick,

•  choose,

•  cull,

•  elect,

•  handpick,

•  name,

•  opt (for),

•  prefer,

•  select,

•  single (out),

•  tag,

•  take

•  Antonyms : 

• (N/A)

3: to bring (something volatile or intense) into being;

  * e.g., " ... he seems to be trying to pick a fight "

•  Synonyms : 

•  abet,

•  brew,

•  ferment,

•  foment,

•  incite,

•  instigate,

•  provoke,

•  raise,

•  stir (up),

•  whip (up)

•  Antonyms : 

• (N/A)

1: to stop, seize, or interrupt while in progress or on course;

  * e.g., " ... picked off more passes than any other player in the division "

•  Synonyms : 

•  block,

•  intercept,

•  interdict

•  Antonyms : 

• (N/A)

1: to acquire complete knowledge, understanding, or skill in;

  * e.g., " ... he has a knack for picking up a language in a few weeks "

•  Synonyms : 

•  get,

•  learn,

•  master

•  Antonyms : 

•  unlearn

2: to bring together in one body or place;

  * e.g., " ... pick up all of your things because we have to be off this beach before dark "

•  Synonyms : 

•  accumulate,

•  amass,

•  assemble,

•  bulk (up),

•  collect,

•  concentrate,

•  congregate,

•  constellate,

•  corral,

•  garner,

•  gather,

•  group,

•  lump,

•  round up

•  Antonyms : 

•  dispel,

•  disperse,

•  dissipate,

•  scatter

3: to get possession of (something) by giving money in exchange for;

  * e.g., " ... could you pick up some milk at the store? "

•  Synonyms : 

•  buy,

•  cop,

•  purchase,

•  take

•  Antonyms : 

•  decrease (in),

•  lose

1: requiring considerable physical or mental effort;

  * e.g., " ... she loves coming up with the big idea but hates the actual pick-and-shovel work of starting a new business "

•  Synonyms : 

•  arduous,

•  Augean,

•  backbreaking,

•  challenging,

•  demanding,

•  difficult,

•  effortful,

•  exacting,

•  formidable,

•  grueling,

•  hard,

•  heavy,

•  hellacious,

•  herculean,

•  killer,

•  laborious,

•  moiling,

•  murderous,

•  rigorous,

•  rough,

•  rugged,

•  severe,

•  stiff,

•  strenuous,

•  sweaty,

•  tall,

•  testing,

•  toilsome,

•  tough,

•  uphill

•  Antonyms : 

•  cheap,

•  easy,

•  effortless,

•  facile,

•  light,

•  mindless,

•  simple,

•  soft,

•  undemanding

1: to subject (someone) to constant scoldings and sharp reminders;

  * e.g., " ... Stop picking at your sister. "

•  Synonyms : 

•  dog,

•  henpeck,

•  hound,

•  nag,

•  needle,

•  peck (at)

•  Antonyms : 

• (N/A)

1: to make timid or fearful by or as if by threats;

  * e.g., " ... Picking on others is not tolerated at this school. "

•  Synonyms : 

•  blackjack,

•  bogart,

•  browbeat,

•  bulldoze,

•  bully,

•  bullyrag,

•  cow,

•  hector,

•  intimidate,

•  strong-arm

•  Antonyms : 

• (N/A)

2: to attack repeatedly with mean put-downs or insults;

  * e.g., " ... Stop picking on your siblings! "

•  Synonyms : 

•  bait,

•  hassle,

•  haze,

•  heckle,

•  needle,

•  ride,

•  taunt,

•  tease

•  Antonyms : 

• (N/A)

1: to put a series of questions to;

  * e.g., " ... The conference presented an opportunity to pick the brains of some of the world's greatest scientists. "

•  Synonyms : 

•  catechize,

•  examine,

•  grill,

•  interrogate,

•  pump,

•  query,

•  question,

•  quiz,

•  sweat

•  Antonyms : 

• (N/A)

1: to have a clear idea of;

  * e.g., " ... The students picked up on the new material quickly. "

•  Synonyms : 

•  appreciate,

•  apprehend,

•  assimilate,

•  behold,

•  catch,

•  catch on (to),

•  cognize,

•  compass,

•  comprehend,

•  conceive,

•  cotton (to or on to),

•  decipher,

•  decode,

•  dig,

•  discern,

•  get,

•  grasp,

•  grok,

•  intuit,

•  know,

•  make,

•  make out,

•  perceive,

•  recognize,

•  register,

•  savvy,

•  see,

•  seize,

•  sense,

•  tumble (to),

•  twig,

•  understand

•  Antonyms : 

•  miss

2: to take for one's own use (something originated by another);

  * e.g., " ... She picked up on earlier styles of painting and added her own flourishes. "

•  Synonyms : 

•  adopt,

•  borrow,

•  embrace,

•  espouse,

•  take on,

•  take up

•  Antonyms : 

• (N/A)