Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Picking

Pick′ing

,
Noun.
1.
The act of digging or breaking up, as with a pick.
2.
The act of choosing, plucking, or gathering.
3.
That which is, or may be, picked or gleaned.
4.
Pilfering; also, that which is pilfered.
5.
pl.
The pulverized shells of oysters used in making walks.
[Eng.]
Simmonds.
6.
(Mining)
Rough sorting of ore.
7.
Overburned bricks.
Simmonds.

Pick′ing

,
Adj.
1.
Done or made as with a pointed tool;
as, a
picking
sound
.
2.
Nice; careful.
[Obs.]
was too warm on
picking
work to dwell.
Dryden.
Picking peg
.
(Weaving)
See
Picker
,
Noun.
, 3.

Webster 1828 Edition


Picking

PICK'ING

,
ppr.
Pulling off with the fingers or teeth; selecting.

PICK'ING

,
Noun.
The act of plucking; selection; gathering; gleaning.

Definition 2024


picking

picking

English

Verb

picking

  1. present participle of pick

Noun

picking (plural pickings)

  1. A gathering to pick fruit.
    We went to a strawberry picking last June.
  2. (usually pluralized) Items remaining after others have selected the best; scraps, as of food.
    • 1899, F. Marion Crawford, Via Crucis, ch. 9:
      Gilbert wandered through . . .the haunts of ravenous dogs and homeless cats that kept themselves alive on the choice pickings of the city's garbage.
  3. (usually pluralized) Income or other gains, especially if obtained in a unscrupulous or objectionable manner.
    • 1919, Anthony Hope, The Secret of the Tower, ch. 11:
      He liked the pickings which the job brought him much better than the job itself.

Synonyms

  • (items remaining after others have selected the best): leftovers

Derived terms