pick out

present singular third person picks out · participle present picking out · participle past picked out · past picked out

1. transitiveTo remove by picking.

   But lering and lurking here and there like ſpies, / The devil tere their tunges and pike out their ies!

   c. 1515–1516 (date written; published 1568), John Skelton, “Against Venemous Tongues Enpoysoned with Sclaunder and False Detractions, &c.”, in Alexander Dyce, editor, The Poetical Works of John Skelton: […], volume I, London: Thomas Rodd, […], published 1843, →OCLC

   1 more example

   Madame Defarge herself picked out the pattern on her sleeve with her toothpick, and saw and heard something inaudible and invisible a long way off.

   1859, Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities, London: Chapman and Hall, […], →OCLC

2. transitiveTo select.

   Very often husbands would patronise my boutique and pick out something for the little lady and, in passing, pick out something for themselves.

   2007, Letticia, Body Worship, page 192

   2 more examples

   Theſe broken fragments, John de Fordun, vvho lived in the fourteenth century, collected vvith a pious induſtry, and from them picked out materials, vvhich he formed into a regular hiſtory.

   1759, William Robertson, “Book I. Containing a Review of the Scotch History previous to the Death of James V.”, in The History of Scotland, during the Reigns of Queen Mary and of King James VI, till His Accession to the Crown of England. […], volume I, London: […] A[ndrew] Millar […], →OCLC, page 4

   Oliver had an erratic and often bewildering afternoon and, just to pick out one incident, the images of Joe Hart putting his forehead uncomfortably close to the official are certainly far from the norm.

   2014 November 2, Daniel Taylor, “Sergio Agüero strike wins derby for Manchester City against 10-man United”, in guardian.co.uk

3. idiomatictransitiveTo distinguish; discern.

   The young birds cry out for food, and the parents returning from the sea manage to pick out their own amid a mass of lookalikes.

   1988 April 30, “Bonaventure Island a birdwatcher's delight 50,000 gannets jostle and spar for a piece of the island”, in Toronto Star^(https://archive.today/20130630045651/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/thestar/access/473614941.html?dids=473614941:473614941&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Apr+30,+1988&author=Stephen+R.+Swinburne+Special+to+The+Star+(Christian+Science+Monitor)BONAVENTURE+ISLAND,+Gaspe,+Quebec&pub=Toronto+Star&desc=Bonaventure+Island+a+birdwatcher's+delight+50,000+gannets+jostle+and+spar+for+a+piece+of+the+island&pqatl=google), archived from the original on 30 Jun 2013

4. transitiveTo ornament or relieve with lines etc. of a different, usually lighter, colour.

   a dark green carriage body picked out with red

   1 more example

   Away on the farthest cape or headland of the long islet, on a strip of turf beyond the last rank of roses, the duellists had already crossed swords. Evening above them was a dome of virgin gold, and, distant as they were, every detail was picked out.

   1911 April 22, G[ilbert] K[eith] Chesterton, “The Sins of Prince Saradine”, in The Innocence of Father Brown, London; New York, N.Y.: Cassell and Company, published 1911, →OCLC

5. idiomatictransitiveTo detect using one's senses (sight, smell, hearing, touch, taste).

   And as I sat there brooding on the old, unknown world, I thought of Gatsby's wonder when he first picked out the green light at the end of Daisy's dock.

   1925, F[rancis] Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby, New York, N.Y.: Charles Scribner’s Sons, published 1953, →ISBN

6. idiomatictransitiveball gamesTo send a long pass or cross to.

   Ameobi skipped away down the left in the 39th minute and tried to pick out Shearer with a cross but his delivery was cut out by goalkeeper Jussi J...

   2006 December 26, “Bolton Wanderers vs Newcastle United”, in 4TheGame, archived from the original on 14 Apr 2008

7. transitiveTo play music slowly, such as when practicing.