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 picnic ham, a section of pork shoulder, usually boned, smoked, and weighing 4–6 pounds. Compare daisy ( def 2 ).
4. Informal. an enjoyable experience or time, easy task, etc.:

   Being laid up in a hospital is no picnic.

verb (used without object)

, pic·nicked, pic·nick·ing.

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. no picnic informal.
   a hard or disagreeable task

verb

1. intr to eat a picnic

Derived Forms

• ˈpicnicker, noun

Other Words From

• picnick·er 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

Vault toilets, trash and recycling services are available at the nearby El Capitan picnic area.

From Los Angeles Times

The Aussie quartet is gathered on a recent afternoon around a Griffith Park picnic table, where a small herd of little kids makes a racket on the grass nearby.

From Los Angeles Times

Say goodbye to disposable plastic utensils and picnic while also respecting Mother Nature.

From Los Angeles Times

A group of children played Connect 4 at a picnic table, while a man sought treatment for a wound to his arm.

From BBC

He later attended a community picnic in Parramatta, where the suit-clad monarch had a go at cooking sausages on a barbeque before meeting a sheepdog.

From BBC

Related Words

• barbecue
• cookout
• excursion
• outing