verb / noun
pick
To pull or pry something free with the fingers or a tool.
We pick ripe strawberries from the plants every morning.
Etymology
Pick has older senses involving pecking, piercing, or removing small pieces. The selected use retains that precise hand-or-tool action to loosen and extract something.
More examples
- He picked a splinter out with tweezers.
- She strums the guitar with a plastic pick.
- The locksmith picks the lock without damaging it.
Forms
pick · picks · picked · picking
picker noun — A person who gathers fruit or crops.