pickup

American  

[pik-uhp] / ˈpɪkˌʌp /

noun

1. an improvement, as in health, business conditions, work, production, etc.

2. Informal. pick-me-up.

3. Informal. a casual, usually unintroduced acquaintance, often one made in hope of a sexual relationship.

4. an instance of stopping for or taking aboard passengers or freight, as by a train, ship, taxicab, etc., especially an instance of taking freight or a shipment of goods onto a truck.

5. the person, freight, or shipment so taken aboard.

   The cab driver had a pickup at the airport who wanted to be driven to the docks.

6. Automotive.

   1. capacity for rapid acceleration.

   2. acceleration; increase in speed.

   3. Also called pickup truck.  a small truck with a low-sided open body, used for deliveries and light hauling.

7. Baseball. the act of fielding a ball after it hits the ground.

8. Also called cartridge.  a small device attached to the end of a phonograph tone arm that contains a stylus and the mechanism that translates the movement of the stylus in a record groove into a changing electrical voltage.

9. Radio.

   1. the act of receiving sound waves in the transmitting set in order to change them into electrical waves.

   2. a receiving or recording device.

   3. the place from which a broadcast is being transmitted.

   4. interference.

10. Television.

    1. the change of light energy into electrical energy in a television camera.

    2. camera tube.

    3. a telecast made directly from the scene of an action.

11. a hitchhiker.

12. Metalworking. (in the cold-drawing of metal) the adhesion of particles of the metal to the die or plug.

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adjective

1. composed of or employing whatever persons are available on a more or less impromptu basis.

   a pickup game of baseball; a pickup dance band.

2. using whatever ingredients are handy or available.

   a Sunday night pickup supper.

Etymology

Origin of pickup

First recorded in 1855–60; noun use of verb phrase pick up

Example Sentences

Unlike certain federal holidays, both UPS and FedEx will offer pickup and delivery services on Good Friday.

From Barron's • Apr. 2, 2026

The increase would also help pay for things like extended store hours for members, and pickup and delivery options.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 2, 2026

As in the neighboring eurozone, the pickup was driven by higher energy prices prompted by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 2, 2026

His Land Rover rolled onto its side after hitting a Ford-F150 pickup truck pulling a small trailer.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 31, 2026

Tidings and Old Johnny Mercer were on the road with the pickup truck and the boat trailer.

From Each Little Bird That Sings by Deborah Wiles

Related Words

• acceleration