PICK AT
Dictionary entry overview: What does pick at mean?
• PICK AT (verb)
The verb PICK AT has 3 senses:
1. pluck or pull at with the fingers
2. eat like a bird
3. express a negative opinion of
Familiarity information: PICK AT used as a verb is uncommon.
Dictionary entry details
• PICK AT (verb)
Meaning:
Pluck or pull at with the fingers
Classified under:
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging
Synonyms:
pick at; pluck at; pull at
Context example:
She picked nervously at the buttons of her blouse
Hypernyms (to "pick at" is one way to...):
pull (apply force so as to cause motion towards the source of the motion)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Meaning:
Eat like a bird
Classified under:
Verbs of eating and drinking
Synonyms:
peck at; pick at; peck
Context example:
The anorexic girl just picks at her food
Hypernyms (to "pick at" is one way to...):
eat (take in solid food)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something
Sentence example:
They pick at more bread
Meaning:
Express a negative opinion of
Classified under:
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing
Synonyms:
disparage; belittle; pick at
Context example:
She disparaged her student's efforts
Hypernyms (to "pick at" is one way to...):
criticise; criticize; knock; pick apart (find fault with; express criticism of; point out real or perceived flaws)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "pick at"):
pan; tear apart; trash (express a totally negative opinion of)
discredit; disgrace (damage the reputation of)
deprecate; depreciate; vilipend (belittle)
belittle; denigrate; derogate; minimize (cause to seem less serious; play down)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
