picnic

[ pik-nik ]

/ ˈpɪk nɪk /

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noun

an excursion or outing in which the participants carry food with them and share a meal in the open air.

the food eaten on such an excursion.

Also called picnic ham, picnic shoulder. a section of pork shoulder, usually boned, smoked, and weighing 4–6 pounds.Compare daisy (def. 2).

Informal. an enjoyable experience or time, easy task, etc.: Being laid up in a hospital is no picnic.

verb (used without object), pic·nicked, pic·nick·ing.

to go on or take part in a picnic.

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Origin of picnic

1740–50; <German Pic-nic (now Picknick) <French pique-nique, rhyming compound < ?

OTHER WORDS FROM picnic

pic·nick·er, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use picnic in a sentence

“We didn’t want to do a live stream,” Phillips explains, sitting at a picnic table with Wareham in their yard.
At home, forever and ever, with Dean & Britta|Nate Rogers|November 6, 2020|Washington Post
The artwork by Leah Beach sits on Workers’ Hill, by the picnic pavilion.
In Delaware, a new Instagram-friendly driving trail spotlights local artists and sites|Andrea Sachs|November 6, 2020|Washington Post
Start at the Pacific Crest Trailhead where it intersects with Mount Ashland Ski Road, making your way through a mix of woods and meadows for the first few miles before the path opens up at Grouse Gap, a popular shelter and picnic area.
The Best Day Hikes on the Pacific Crest Trail|Maggy Lehmicke|November 4, 2020|Outside Online
A dozen miles later, I drove up to a sunny picnic table at Sage Creek Campground and was instantly greeted with a series of high-pitched alarm-like chirps.
I Saw an Epic Sunset at Badlands National Park|Emily Pennington|November 3, 2020|Outside Online

Poway Mayor Steve Vaus has highlighted a small business loan and picnic table-renting program his city started during the pandemic for companies hard up for cash and in need of outdoor space.
What Republicans Say They’ll Do if They Keep Control of the Board of Supervisors|Jesse Marx|October 20, 2020|Voice of San Diego
We headed out soon after, back into the sunlight-dappled gardens of the temple complex, to join worshippers picnicking.
Fighting Back With Faith: Inside the Yezidis’ Iraqi Temple|Michael Luongo|August 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Or those long July hours picnicking in wait for a fleeting rainbow streak of jerseys to spill through a mountain pass.
Lance Armstrong’s Shadow Looms Large Over 100th Edition of Tour de France|Tracy McNicoll|October 25, 2012|DAILY BEAST
The family said the man was picnicking; the Border Patrol said the victim was pelting the agent with rocks.
U.S. Border Patrol Fires at Rock Throwers in Mexico, and Three Have Died|Terry Greene Sterling|October 13, 2012|DAILY BEAST
She, her kids, and some friends were picnicking on the bank of the Red River near their home in Shreveport, Louisiana.
The Drowning Race Gap|Constantino Diaz-Duran|August 7, 2010|DAILY BEAST
As I sauntered on, revolving very pleasant thoughts to myself, I came upon a party who were picnicking under a tree.
That Boy Of Norcott's|Charles James Lever
The picnicking, if picnicking there is to be, is done in town.
Lippincott's Magazine of Popular Literature and Science, October, 1877, Vol. XX. No. 118|Various
Some wretched tourist has been picnicking up here, I suppose, and smashed a ginger-beer bottle.
A Fortunate Term|Angela Brazil
This was a favorite picnicking spot for parties from Denton; but our friends had the island all to themselves this day.
Wyn's Camping Days|Amy Bell Marlowe
The picnicking farmers should be home ahead of this storm; yet, if they came, they could not stop the sails of the windmill.
Wyn's Camping Days|Amy Bell Marlowe

British Dictionary definitions for picnic

picnic

/ (ˈpɪknɪk) /

noun

a trip or excursion to the country, seaside, etc, on which people bring food to be eaten in the open air

any informal meal eaten outside
(as modifier)a picnic lunch

informal, mainly Australian a troublesome situation or experience

no picnic informal a hard or disagreeable task

verb -nics, -nicking or -nicked

(intr) to eat a picnic

Derived forms of picnic

picnicker, noun

Word Origin for picnic

C18: from French piquenique, of unknown origin

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with picnic

picnic

see no picnic.

picnic

Origin of picnic

OTHER WORDS FROM picnic

Words related to picnic

How to use picnic in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for picnic

Derived forms of picnic

Word Origin for picnic

Other Idioms and Phrases with picnic