PICK AT

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does pick at mean? 

• PICK AT (verb)
  The verb PICK AT has 3 senses:

1. pluck or pull at with the fingers

2. eat like a bird

3. express a negative opinion of

  Familiarity information: PICK AT used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• PICK AT (verb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Pluck or pull at with the fingers

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

pick at; pluck at; pull at

Context example:

She picked nervously at the buttons of her blouse

Hypernyms (to "pick at" is one way to...):

pull (apply force so as to cause motion towards the source of the motion)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 2

Meaning:

Eat like a bird

Classified under:

Verbs of eating and drinking

Synonyms:

peck; peck at; pick at

Context example:

The anorexic girl just picks at her food

Hypernyms (to "pick at" is one way to...):

eat (take in solid food)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something

Sentence example:

They pick at more bread

Sense 3

Meaning:

Express a negative opinion of

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

belittle; disparage; pick at

Context example:

She disparaged her student's efforts

Hypernyms (to "pick at" is one way to...):

criticise; criticize; knock; pick apart (find fault with; express criticism of; point out real or perceived flaws)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "pick at"):

pan; tear apart; trash (express a totally negative opinion of)

discredit; disgrace (damage the reputation of)

deprecate; depreciate; vilipend (belittle)

belittle; denigrate; derogate; minimize (cause to seem less serious; play down)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

 Context examples 

Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) Does the patient pace, do things over and over such as opening closets or drawers, or repeatedly pick at things or wind string or threads?

(NPI - Pace, Do Things Over and Over, Repeatedly Pick at Things, NCI Thesaurus)

I saw it going into your house as I came by, and if she hadn't defended it manfully I'd have had a pick at it, for it looked like a remarkably plummy one.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)