/pɪk; pɪk/
n [sing]
1 (right of) selecting; choice 挑选; 选择; 选择权
*Of course I'll lend you a pen. Take your pick, ie whichever one you choose. 我当然可以借给你钢笔用. 自己挑吧.
* The winner has first pick of the prizes. 胜者有选择奖品的优先权.
2 the ~ of sth the best (example) of sth 最佳选择（的事物）; 精华
*Only the pick of the crop is good enough for us, eg in food advertising. 本公司原料皆为精选作物（如见于食品广告）.
* the pick of the new season's fashions 新款精选
* (infml 口) the pick of the bunch, ie the best of a number of things or people 出类拔萃者.

/pɪk; pɪk/
n
1 (also pickaxe, US pickax / 5pIkks; `pIk9Aks/) large tool consisting of a curved iron bar with sharp ends fixed onto a wooden handle, used for breaking up stones, hard ground, etc 鹤嘴锄; 镐. =>illus at axe 见axe插图.
2 (esp in compounds 尤用以构成复合词) instrument with a sharp point, used for the purpose specified 锄; 镐
*an `ice-pick
* a `toothpick.

/pɪk; pɪk/
v
1 [Tn] choose or select (sth), eg from a group of things, esp thoughtfully and carefully 挑选, 选择（某物）; （尤指）精选
*You can pick whichever one you like. 你喜欢哪个就挑哪个.
* Only the best players were picked to play in the match. 选出参赛的都是最佳选手.
* pick one's words, ie express oneself carefully, eg so as not to annoy sb 斟酌词句（如以免得罪人）
* pick one's way along a muddy path, ie walk carefully, choosing the best places to put one's feet 在泥泞的小道上走路时小心下脚. =>Usage at choose 用法见choose.
2 [Tn] pluck, gather or remove (flowers, vegetables, etc) from the place where they grow 采摘, 采集（花、菜等）
*flowers freshly picked from the garden 从花园中新采的花
* pick lettuce, plums, spinach, strawberries, etc 收获莴苣、梅子、菠菜、草莓等.
3 (a) [Tn, Cn.a] remove small pieces of matter from (sth), esp in order to clean it 从（某处）除掉小块物（尤指为弄乾净）
*pick one's nose, ie remove dried mucus from the nostrils 挖鼻孔
* pick one's teeth, ie use a small pointed piece of wood, etc to remove particles of food from one's teeth 剔牙
* The dogs picked the bones clean, ie removed all the meat from the bones. 狗把骨头啃得乾乾净净.
(b) [Tn.pr] ~ sth (from/off sth) remove sth from a surface, esp with one's fingers or a sharp instrument （从物体表面）除掉某物（尤指用手指或尖物）
*pick the tacking threads (from a garment) 拆掉（衣服上的）　线
* pick a hair from the collar of one's coat 捡去衣领上的一根头发
* pick the toys off the floor 拾起地板上的玩具
* pick the nuts off the top of the cake 拣去蛋糕上的果仁.
(c) [Tn] open (a lock) without a key, eg by using a piece of bent wire or a pointed tool （用尖细之物或铁丝）拨开（锁）.
4 [Tn, Tn.pr] ~ sth (in sth) make (a hole) in sth by pulling at it or by using one's finger-nails or a sharp instrument （用指甲或尖物）扎开, 抠开（一孔）
*The child has picked a hole in his new jumper. 孩子的新毛衣上勾了一个洞.
* The bird picked a hole in the ice with its beak. 那鸟在冰上啄出了一个洞.
5 (a) [In] (of birds) take up (grain, etc) in the bill （指鸟）叼起, 啄起（谷粒等）
*chickens picking corn 啄食玉米的小鸡.
(b) [Ipr] ~ at sth eat (food) in very small amounts or without appetite 小口地吃（某物）（或吃时无食欲）
*Sparrows picked at the crumbs. 麻雀啄食着面包屑.
* He never feels hungry and just picks at his food. 他从不觉得饿, 吃东西也没有胃口.
6 [Tn] = pluck 4
*pick a banjo 弹班卓琴.
7 (idm 习语) have a bone to pick with sb => bone. pick and `choose make a selection from a number of things, esp in a slow, careful or fussy way 挑选; （尤指）挑挑拣拣
*I spent days picking and choosing before deciding on the wallpaper and curtains. 我挑选壁纸和帘子用了好几天的时间.
* We had to find a flat in a hurry there was no time to pick and choose. 我们只好匆忙找套房子--没有时间挑选了. pick sb's `brains ask sb questions in order to obtain information that one can use oneself 问某人问题以获取有用的信息
*I need a new French dictionary. Can I pick your brains about the best one to buy? 我需要一部新的法语词典. 能否向您请教哪本最好? pick a `fight/`quarrel (with sb) deliberately cause a fight/quarrel (with sb), eg by behaving aggressively （向某人）寻衅, 找茬儿
*He tried to pick a quarrel with me about it but I refused to discuss the matter. 他极力想就那事找我的茬儿, 但我绝不谈论此事.
* It was foolish of you to pick a fight with a heavyweightboxing champion! 你傻了, 竟敢和重量级的拳击冠军寻衅闹事! pick holes in sth find fault with sth 挑某事物的毛病; 找某事物的漏洞
*It was easy to pick holes in his argument. 在他的论据里不难找到漏洞.
* They pick holes in everything I suggest. 只要是我提的建议他们就挑毛病. pick sb's `pocket steal money, etc from sb's pocket 扒窃. pick/pull sb/sth to pieces => piece1. pick up/take up/throw down the gauntlet => gauntlet1. pick up the `pieces/`threads restore to normality or make better (a situation, one's life, etc), esp after a setback, shock, disaster, etc 恢复或改进（局面、生活状况等）（尤指于受挫、受惊、受灾等之後）
*Their lives were shattered by the tragedy and they are still trying to pick up the pieces. 他们的生活被这场悲剧摧垮了, 但他们仍尽力重新整顿. pick up `speed go faster 加速
*We reached the outskirts of town and began to pick up speed. 我们到达市郊後开始加速. pick a `winner
(a) (in horse-racing) choose correctly the horse which will win the race, esp in order to bet on it （马赛中）挑中定能跑赢的马.
(b) make a very good choice 挑选得极好
*(ironic 反语) I really picked a winner with this car it's always breaking down! 这辆汽车我算挑着了--总出故障!
8 (phr v) pick sb off shoot (a person, an animal, a bird, etc, esp one of a group) after aiming carefully （有选择地）瞄准射击（人、兽、鸟等）
*A sniper hidden on a roof picked off three of the soldiers on patrol. 藏在屋顶上的狙击手击毙了三名巡逻兵.