n.

1. the person or thing chosen or selected;
   choice, selection
   
   • he was my pick for mayor
2. the quantity of a crop that is harvested;
   picking
   
   • he sent the first picking of berries to the market
   • it was the biggest peach pick in years
3. the best people or things in a group;
   cream
   
   • the cream of England's young men were killed in the Great War
4. the yarn woven across the warp yarn in weaving;
   woof, weft, filling
5. a small thin device (of metal or plastic or ivory) used to pluck a stringed instrument;
   plectrum, plectron
6. a thin sharp implement used for removing unwanted material
   
   • he used a pick to clean the dirt out of the cracks
7. a heavy iron tool with a wooden handle and a curved head that is pointed on both ends;
   pickax, pickaxe
   
   • they used picks and sledges to break the rocks
8. a basketball maneuver; obstructing an opponent with one's body
   
   • he was called for setting an illegal pick
9. the act of choosing or selecting;
   choice, selection, option
   
   • your choice of colors was unfortunate
   • you can take your pick

v.

1. select carefully from a group
   
   • She finally picked her successor
   • He picked his way carefully
2. look for and gather;
   pluck, cull
   
   • pick mushrooms
   • pick flowers
3. harass with constant criticism;
   blame, find fault
   
   • Don't always pick on your little brother
4. provoke
   
   • pick a fight or a quarrel
5. remove in small bits
   
   • pick meat from a bone
6. remove unwanted substances from, such as feathers or pits;
   clean
   
   • Clean the turkey
7. pilfer or rob
   
   • pick pockets
8. pay for something;
   foot
   
   • pick up the tab
   • pick up the burden of high-interest mortgages
   • foot the bill
9. pull lightly but sharply with a plucking motion;
   pluck, plunk
   
   • he plucked the strings of his mandolin
10. attack with or as if with a pickaxe of ice or rocky ground, for example;
    break up
    
    • Pick open the ice
11. hit lightly with a picking motion;
    peck, beak
12. eat intermittently; take small bites of;
    nibble, piece
    
    • He pieced at the sandwich all morning
    • She never eats a full meal--she just nibbles