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 pickup 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 ( def 4 ).
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 area had limited water and electrical service and no gas lines, sewers, garbage pickup or paved roads, according to a historical study prepared by the Architectural Resources Group last month for the city council.

From Los Angeles Times

A week after taking office, his body was discovered inside pickup truck.

From Los Angeles Times

One post on X, formerly Twitter, from late October reads: “Starbucks going from a genuinely nice place to sit and read or hang out to a high octane, clamoring production warehouse for pickup and drive thru orders is one of the hardest hospitality fumbles of all time.”

From Salon

In addition to Riley’s film, she’ll soon appear in an Eddie Murphy comedy, “The Pickup”; Aziz Ansari’s directorial debut, “Good Fortune”; a buddy comedy with SZA that she produced called “One of Them Days”; and a Peacock television adaptation of the 1989 Tom Hanks movie “The ’Burbs.”

From Los Angeles Times

Known for its sleek electric adventure vehicles, Rivian’s pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles stand out on the road.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• acceleration