pluck

[ pluhk ]

verb (used with object)

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, or out ).
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.

verb (used without object)

1. to pull or tug sharply (often followed by at ).
2. to snatch (often followed by at ).

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: boldness, nerve, mettle, determination, bravery

verb phrase

1. 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

/ plʌk /

verb

1. tr to pull off (feathers, fruit, etc) from (a fowl, tree, etc)
2. whenintr, foll by at 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

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

Derived Forms

• ˈplucker, noun

Other Words From

• plucker noun
• half-plucked adjective
• un·plucked adjective
• well-plucked adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of pluck¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of pluck¹

Old English pluccian, plyccan; related to German pflücken

Example Sentences

Thousands of companies have exploited its porousness by plucking workers from the ranks of unauthorized migrants, sometimes with impunity.

From New York Times

Audiard plays with cinematic form by often plucking his characters from the real world in the middle of a song.

From Los Angeles Times

Some of Trump’s advisors, including Musk, have warned that the president-elect could be endangering his legislative agenda if he plucks too many more Republicans from the chambers.

From BBC

He remained a chaplain until 2002, when he was charged with 29 counts of molesting girls; fearing he would try to flee prosecution, authorities plucked him off a cruise ship bound for Russia.

From Los Angeles Times

They plucked the produce out of family gardens.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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