pick-up

UK: /ˈpɪkʌp/

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

pick-up noun

1. Also called: pick-up arm, tone arm the light balanced arm of a record player that carries the wires from the cartridge to the preamplifier
2. an electromagnetic transducer that converts the vibrations of the steel strings of an electric guitar or other amplified instrument into electric signals
3. another name for cartridge3
4. Also called: pick-up truck a small truck with an open body and low sides, used for light deliveries
5. an ability to accelerate rapidly: this car has good pick-up
6. a casual acquaintance, usually one made with sexual intentions
7. a stop to collect passengers, goods, etc
8. the people or things collected
9. a free ride in a motor vehicle
10. an improvement
11. a pick-me-up

adjective

1. organized, arranged, or assembled hastily and without planning: a pick-up band, pick-up games

verb pick up (adverb)

1. (transitive) to gather up in the hand or hands
2. (transitive) to acquire, obtain, or purchase casually, incidentally, etc
3. (transitive) to catch (a disease): she picked up a bad cold during the weekend
4. (intransitive) to improve in health, condition, activity, etc: the market began to pick up
5. (reflexive) to raise (oneself) after a fall or setback
6. (transitive) to notice or sense: she picked up a change in his attitude
7. to resume where one left off; return to: we'll pick up after lunch, they picked up the discussion
8. (transitive) to learn gradually or as one goes along
9. (transitive) to take responsibility for paying (a bill): she picked up the bill for dinner
10. (transitive) to reprimand: he picked her up on her table manners
11. (transitive) to collect or give a lift to (passengers, hitchhikers, goods, etc)
12. (transitive) to become acquainted with, esp with a view to having sexual relations
13. (transitive) to arrest
14. to increase (speed): the cars picked up down the straight
15. (transitive) to receive (electrical signals, a radio signal, sounds, etc), as for transmission or amplification
16. pick up the pieces ⇒ to restore a situation to normality after a crisis or collapse