pickup

[pik-uhp]

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.

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.

Word History and Origins

Origin of pickup¹

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

Example Sentences

The pickup in price growth was largely led by higher-than-expected prices of agricultural and livestock products, the office said.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The pickup suggests that the hiring freeze that has plagued much of the labor market in recent months may be easing, although the recovery is “tepid,” says ADP chief economist Nela Richardson.

Read more on Barron's

One of the crew’s fire engines — a “Type 6,” essentially a decked-out pickup truck — blew a fuse, leaving it stuck in park as a nearby home erupted into flames.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The trouble began that day when Parias, outfitted in a “Press” vest, sat in the backseat of a black pickup truck, trailing federal immigration agents.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

They knew the best doors for easy pickup, provided cold beverages — sparkling wine, coffee, and water — and had a great playlist.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• acceleration