First Known Use: before 12th century
Dictionary
1pluck
verb \ˈplək\
: to pull (something) quickly to remove it
: to remove some or all of the feathers or hairs from (something)
: to take (someone or something) away from a place or situation suddenly or by force
Full Definition of PLUCK
transitive verb
1
: to pull or pick off or out
2
3
: to move, remove, or separate forcibly or abruptly <plucked the child from the middle of the street>
4
a : to pick, pull, or grasp at b : to play by sounding the strings with the fingers or a pick
intransitive verb
: to make a sharp pull or twitch
— pluck·er noun
See pluck defined for English-language learners
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Origin of PLUCK
Middle English, from Old English pluccian; akin to Middle High German pflücken to pluck
Related to PLUCK
- Synonyms
- beat, bilk, bleed, cheat, chisel, chouse, con, cozen, defraud, diddle, do, do in, euchre, fiddle, flimflam, gaff, gyp, hose [slang], hustle, mulct, nobble [British slang], fleece, ream, rip off, rook, screw, shake down, short, shortchange, skin, skunk, squeeze, stick, stiff, sting, sucker, swindle, thimblerig, victimize
2pluck
noun
: a quality that makes you continue trying to do or achieve something that is difficult : courage and determination
Full Definition of PLUCK
1
: an act or instance of plucking or pulling
2
: the heart, liver, lungs, and trachea of a slaughtered animal especially as an item of food
3
: courageous readiness to fight or continue against odds : dogged resolution
See pluck defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of PLUCK
15th century
PLUCKING Defined for Kids
1pluck
verb \ˈplək\
pluckedpluck·ing
Definition of PLUCK for Kids
1
: to pull off : pick <pluck grapes>
2
: to remove something (as a hair or feather) with a quick pull
3
: to seize and remove quickly : snatch <She … plucked the envelope from the mailbox … — Andrew Clements, Frindle>
4
: to pull at (a string) and let go
2pluck
noun
Definition of PLUCK for Kids
1
: a sharp pull : tug
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