noun 1. Also called pick-up arm, tone arm. the light balanced arm of a record player that carries the wires from the cartridge to the preamplifier
2. an electromagnetic transducer that converts the vibrations of the steel strings of an electric guitar or other amplified instrument into electric signals
4. Also called pick-up truck. a small truck with an open body and low sides, used for light deliveries
5. (informal, mainly US) an ability to accelerate rapidly: this car has good pick-up
6. (informal) a casual acquaintance, usually one made with sexual intentions
7. (
informal)
- a stop to collect passengers, goods, etc
- the people or things collected
8. (slang) a free ride in a motor vehicle
9. (informal) an improvement
verb (
adverb)
12. (transitive) to gather up in the hand or hands
13. (transitive) to acquire, obtain, or purchase casually, incidentally, etc
14. (transitive) to catch (a disease): she picked up a bad cold during the weekend
15. (intransitive) to improve in health, condition, activity, etc: the market began to pick up
16. (reflexive) to raise (oneself) after a fall or setback
17. (transitive) to notice or sense: she picked up a change in his attitude
18. to resume where one left off; return to: we'll pick up after lunch, they picked up the discussion
19. (transitive) to learn gradually or as one goes along
20. (transitive) to take responsibility for paying (a bill): he picked up the bill for dinner
21. (transitive) (informal) to reprimand: he picked her up on her table manners
22. (transitive) to collect or give a lift to (passengers, hitchhikers, goods, etc)
23. (transitive) (informal) to become acquainted with, esp with a view to having sexual relations
24. (transitive) (informal) to arrest
25. to increase (speed): the cars picked up down the straight
26. (transitive) to receive (electrical signals, a radio signal, sounds, etc), as for transmission or amplification
27. pick up the pieces, to restore a situation to normality after a crisis or collapse