picnic

[pik-nik]

noun

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

2. the food eaten on such an excursion.

3. Also called picnic ham,. Also called picnic shoulder. a section of pork shoulder, usually boned, smoked, and weighing 4–6 pounds.

4. Informal.,  an enjoyable experience or time, easy task, etc..

   Being laid up in a hospital is no picnic.

verb (used without object)

picnicked, picnicking 

1. to go on or take part in a picnic.

picnic

/ ˈpɪknɪk /

noun

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

2. 1. any informal meal eaten outside

   2. ( as modifier )

      a picnic lunch

3. informal,  a troublesome situation or experience

4. informal,  a hard or disagreeable task

verb

1. (intr) to eat a picnic

Other Word Forms

• picnicker noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of picnic¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of picnic¹

C18: from French piquenique, of unknown origin

Idioms and Phrases

see no picnic.

Example Sentences

Once you’ve secured your snacks, grab a picnic blanket or low chair and head over to Hollywood Forever Cemetery to watch a movie — a favorite L.A. experience for many of my colleagues.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The brash Republican has converted parts of the White House to resemble his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, particularly the newly paved-over Rose Garden with its picnic tables and yellow and white umbrellas.

Read more on Barron's

This was not the barefoot frolic I knew from picnics, not the game of lazy parabolas.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Few fall experiences around the country can beat a picnic and a Shakespeare play under the stars, but fear not if you find outdoor tickets sold out: The intimate, indoor theater is lovely, too.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

I slowly unzipped the tent door, poked my head out and saw it: a lone bison head-butting a picnic table, lifting one end into the air with alarming ease.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• barbecue 
• cookout 
• excursion 
• outing