(For a bird) To eat by small pieces with one's beak or bill.
To respond to an incoming telephone call.
To perceive with the senses quickly, suddenly, or momentarily (e.g. an aroma, an allusion, etc.).
To lift; to grasp and raise; to collect.
perceive with the senses quickly, suddenly, or momentarily; "I caught the aroma of coffee"; "He caught the allusion in her glance"; "ears open to catch every sound"; "The dog picked up the scent"; "Catch a glimpse"
take into custody, as of suspected criminals, by the police
gather or collect; "You can get the results on Monday"; "She picked up the children at the day care center"
fill with high spirits; fill with optimism
get to know or become aware of; "I learned that she has two grown-up children"; "I see that you have been promoted"
eat by pecking at; of birds
gain or regain energy
lift out or reflect from a background, as of a color; "The scarf picks up the color of the skirt"; "His eyes picked up his smile"
take up by hand; "He picked up the book and started to read"
give a passenger or a hitchhiker a lift
buy casually or spontaneously; "I picked up some food for a snack"
get in addition, as an increase; "The candidate picked up thousands of votes after his visit to the nursing home"
meet someone for sexual purposes
take and lift upward
of perceptual input: receive a signal, receive news, receive a verdict, etc.
get better; "Her performance in school picked up"
gain or regain energy; "I picked up after a nap"
lift out or reflect from a background; "The scarf picks up the color of the skirt"; "His eyes picked up his smile"
get to know or become aware of, usually accidentally; "I learned that she has two grown-up children"; "I see that you have been promoted"
eat by pecking at, like a bird
take into custody; "the police nabbed the suspected criminals"
fill with high spirits; fill with optimism; "Music can uplift your spirits"
give a passenger or a hitchhiker a lift; "We picked up a hitchhiker on the highway"
recieve (perceptual input); "pick up a signal"
gather or collect; "You can get the results on Monday"; "She picked up the children at the day care center"; "They pick up our trash twice a week"
meet someone for sexual purposes; "he always tries to pick up girls in bars"
improve significantly; go from bad to good
lift out or reflect from a background
get to know or become aware of, usually accidentally
take up by hand
take into custody
register (perceptual input)
perceive with the senses quickly, suddenly, or momentarily
