pluck

American  

[pluhk] / plʌk /

verb (used with object)

plucks, present (3rd person singular) plucked, past participle, past plucking present participle

1. to pull off or out from the place of growth, as fruit, flowers, feathers, etc..

   to pluck feathers from a chicken.

2. to give a pull at; grasp.

   to pluck someone's sleeve.

   Synonyms:

   tug

3. to pull with sudden force or with a jerk.

   Synonyms:

   rip, tear, yank

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

5. to remove the feathers, hair, etc., from by pulling.

   to pluck a chicken.

6. Slang. to rob, plunder, or fleece.

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

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verb (used without object)

plucks, present (3rd person singular) plucked, past participle, past plucking present participle

1. to pull or tug sharply (often followed byat ).

2. to snatch (often followed byat ).

noun

1. act of plucking; a tug.

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

3. courage or resolution in the face of difficulties.

   Synonyms:

   nerve, mettle, determination, boldness, bravery

verb phrase

1. pluck up

   1. to eradicate; uproot.

   2. 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.

pluck British  

/ plʌk /

verb

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

2. to pull or tug

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

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

5. (tr) another word for strip 1

6. slang (tr) to fleece or swindle

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noun

1. courage, usually in the face of difficulties or hardship

2. a sudden pull or tug

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

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• unplucked
  adjective
• plucker
  noun
• well-plucked
  adjective
• half-plucked
  adjective

Conjugated Forms

Present

• has plucked
  perfect 3rd person singular
• have plucked
  perfect
• am plucking
  progressive 1st person singular
• are plucking
  progressive
• plucks
  singular 3rd person
• plucking
  participle
• has been plucking
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• is plucking
  progressive 3rd person singular
• have been plucking
  perfect progressive

Past

• had plucked
  perfect
• were plucking
  progressive plural
• plucked
  participle
• had been plucking
  perfect progressive
• was plucking
  progressive singular
• plucked
  simple

Future

• will pluck
  simple
• will have plucked
  perfect
• will be plucking
  progressive
• will have been plucking
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of pluck

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

Explanation

To pluck is to pick or pull a single item out of many, like a flower or a hair. As a noun, pluck is energy or enthusiasm, even when things are looking grim. Don't pluck only the best cherries off the tree: that's cherry-picking! Before you cook a goose, you need to pluck its feathers. If it looks like your goose is cooked, however, then show some pluck, and figure out a way to save yourself. Some characters who are famous for showing pluck include the Artful Dodger, Little Orphan Annie, and Benji the dog. They all kept their chins up and kept on trying, even when things looked really dark.

Example Sentences

When John Pluck saw Anne sharing her story he felt compelled to help her.

From BBC • Feb. 1, 2023

Pluck off a leaf, make a small cut, and squeeze out the gel.

From Washington Post • Dec. 31, 2021

Pluck a couple of California bay laurel leaves and stir those into a pasta dish for a few minutes before serving, then remove.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 10, 2020

Pluck off one or two of the fried sage leaves to eat whole, then toss it all together to enrich with the lovely glob of ricotta.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 15, 2019

Pluck the loose strings, singer, Thrum the strings; For the wind brings distant, drowsy bells of song.

From Irradiations; Sand and Spray by Fletcher, John Gould

Related Words

• clutch
• cull
• harvest
• snatch
• strum
• yank