pluck

[ pluhk ]

/ plʌk /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR pluck ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object)

to pull off or out from the place of growth, as fruit, flowers, feathers, etc.: to pluck feathers from a chicken.

to give a pull at; grasp: to pluck someone's sleeve.

to pull with sudden force or with a jerk.

to pull or move by force (often followed by away, off, or out).

to remove the feathers, hair, etc., from by pulling: to pluck a chicken.

Slang. to rob, plunder, or fleece.

to sound (the strings of a musical instrument) by pulling at them with the fingers or a plectrum.

verb (used without object)

to pull or tug sharply (often followed by at).

to snatch (often followed by at).

noun

act of plucking; a tug.

the heart, liver, and lungs, especially of an animal used for food.

courage or resolution in the face of difficulties.

Verb Phrases

pluck up,

to eradicate; uproot.
to summon up one's courage; rouse one's spirits: He always plucked up at the approach of danger. She was a stranger in the town, but, plucking up her courage, she soon made friends.

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bailiwick

a creature, variously described as a serpent, lizard, or dragon, said to kill by its breath or look.

place or source of origin.

a person's area of skill, knowledge, authority, or work.

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Origin of pluck

before 1000; Middle English plukken (v.), Old English pluccian, cognate with Middle Low German plucken; akin to Dutch plukken, German pflücken

SYNONYMS FOR pluck

2 tug.

3 yank, tear, rip.

12 bravery, boldness, determination, mettle, nerve.

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OTHER WORDS FROM pluck

pluck·er, nounhalf-plucked, adjectiveun·plucked, adjectivewell-plucked, adjective

Words nearby pluck

plp, plr, plss, plu, plu., pluck, pluck up, pluck up one's courage, plucky, plug, plug and feathers

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

British Dictionary definitions for pluck up (1 of 2)

pluck up

verb (tr, adverb)

to pull out; uproot

to muster (courage, one's spirits, etc)

British Dictionary definitions for pluck up (2 of 2)

pluck

/ (plʌk) /

verb

(tr) to pull off (feathers, fruit, etc) from (a fowl, tree, etc)

(when intr, foll by at) to pull or tug

(tr; foll by off, away, etc) archaic to pull (something) forcibly or violently (from something or someone)

(tr) to sound (the strings) of (a musical instrument) with the fingers, a plectrum, etc

(tr) another word for strip 1 (def. 7)

(tr) slang to fleece or swindle

noun

courage, usually in the face of difficulties or hardship

a sudden pull or tug

the heart, liver, and lungs, esp of an animal used for food

Derived forms of pluck

plucker, noun

Word Origin for pluck

Old English pluccian, plyccan; related to German pflücken

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

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pluck

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

noun

Verb Phrases

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Origin of pluck

SYNONYMS FOR pluck

OTHER WORDS FROM pluck

Words nearby pluck

British Dictionary definitions for pluck up (1 of 2)

verb (tr, adverb)

British Dictionary definitions for pluck up (2 of 2)

verb

noun

Derived forms of pluck

Word Origin for pluck

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

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WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

pluck

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

noun

Verb Phrases

QUIZZES

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Origin of pluck

SYNONYMS FOR pluck

OTHER WORDS FROM pluck

Words nearby pluck

Words related to pluck up

British Dictionary definitions for pluck up (1 of 2)

verb (tr, adverb)

British Dictionary definitions for pluck up (2 of 2)

verb

noun

Derived forms of pluck

Word Origin for pluck