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

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

“But this was a s— ton of human performance”: people plucking guitars, people blowing saxophones, people sawing away at cellos and violins.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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