pluck

pluck
—plucker, n.
/pluk/, v.t.
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.
3. to pull with sudden force or with a jerk.
4. to pull or move by force (often fol. 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.
v.i.
8. to pull or tug sharply (often fol. by at).
9. to snatch (often fol. by at).
10. pluck up,
a. to eradicate; uproot.
b. 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.
n.
11. act of plucking; a tug.
12. the heart, liver, and lungs, esp. of an animal used for food.
13. courage or resolution in the face of difficulties.
[bef. 1000; ME plukken (v.), OE pluccian, c. MLG plucken; akin to D plukken, G pflücken]
Syn. 2. tug. 3. yank, tear, rip. 13. bravery, boldness, determination, mettle, nerve.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • plück — plück·er; …   English syllables

  • Pluck — Pluck, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Plucked}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Plucking}.] [AS. pluccian; akin to LG. & D. plukken, G. pfl[ u]cken, Icel. plokka, plukka, Dan. plukke, Sw. plocka. ?27.] 1. To pull; to draw. [1913 Webster] Its own nature . . . plucks on… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • pluck — pluck·er; pluck·i·ly; pluck·i·ness; pluck·less; pluck; pluck·less·ness; …   English syllables

  • pluck — [pluk] vt. [ME plukken < OE pluccian, akin to Ger pflücken < VL * piluccare, to pull out (> Fr éplucher), for L pilare, to deprive of hair < pilus, hair: see PILE2] 1. to pull off or out; pick 2. to drag or snatch; grab 3. to pull… …   English World dictionary

  • pluck´i|ly — pluck|y «PLUHK ee», adjective, pluck|i|er, pluck|i|est. having or showing courage: »a plucky dog. SYNONYM(S): brave, mettlesome, spirited. –pluck´i|ly …   Useful english dictionary

  • pluck|y — «PLUHK ee», adjective, pluck|i|er, pluck|i|est. having or showing courage: »a plucky dog. SYNONYM(S): brave, mettlesome, spirited. –pluck´i|ly …   Useful english dictionary

  • Pluck — Pluck, n. 1. The act of plucking; a pull; a twitch. [1913 Webster] 2. [Prob. so called as being plucked out after the animal is killed; or cf. Gael. & Ir. pluc a lump, a knot, a bunch.] The heart, liver, and lights of an animal. [1913 Webster] 3 …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Pluck — Pluck, v. i. To make a motion of pulling or twitching; usually with at; as, to pluck at one s gown. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • pluck — (v.) late O.E. ploccian pull off, cull, from W.Gmc. *plokken (Cf. M.L.G. plucken, M.Du. plocken, Flem. plokken), perhaps from V.L. *piluccare (Cf. O.Fr. peluchier, late 12c.), a frequentative, ultimately from L. pilare pull out hair, from pilus… …   Etymology dictionary

  • pluck — [n] person’s resolution, courage backbone*, boldness, bravery, dauntlessness, determination, grit, guts*, hardihood, heart*, intestinal fortitude*, intrepidity, mettle, moxie*, nerve, resolution, spirit, spunk; concept 411 Ant. cowardice,… …   New thesaurus

  • pluck — ► VERB 1) take hold of (something) and quickly remove it from its place. 2) pull out (a hair, feather, etc.) 3) pull the feathers from (a bird s carcass) to prepare it for cooking. 4) pull at or twitch. 5) sound (a stringed musical instrument)… …   English terms dictionary

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