picken

Definition & meaning

The verb picken has a few distinct meanings depending on the context:

1. To peck: This refers to the action of a bird striking or biting at something with its beak, often to eat food.
2. To pick (out): This refers to the act of selecting, choosing, or plucking something out from a group or a surface, often with the fingers or a tool.
3. To prick: In some colloquial or regional contexts, it can describe a light piercing or stinging sensation.

Grammar & Word origin

Grammar:

• Part of speech: Verb (weak, regular)
• Conjugation: ich picke, du pickst, er/sie/es pickt; past tense: ich pickte; perfect: habe gepickt.
• Usage: It is often used transitively (to peck something) or intransitively (the bird is pecking).

Origin: The word is derived from Middle High German picken. It is related to the English word "peck" and is considered an onomatopoeic word, meaning the sound of the word imitates the sound of the action itself.

Synonyms & antonyms

Synonyms:

• hacken picken?: To peck or hack at something.
• auswählen picken?: To select or choose something from a group.
• picken picken? (in the sense of gathering): Sometimes used synonymously with aufpicken picken? to describe birds picking up seeds.
• stechen picken?: To prick or sting.

Antonyms:

• abgeben picken?: To release or give away (in the context of selecting/keeping).
• ignorieren picken?: To ignore or leave something untouched.