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Pickup: meaning, definitions and examples

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pickup

 

[ˈpɪkʌp ]

Definitions

Context #1 | Noun

in dating

A casual romantic or sexual encounter without a commitment.

Synonyms

casual encounter, fling, hookup.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
pickup

Also refers to the act of meeting someone new with a romantic or sexual interest, commonly used in casual or modern contexts, sometimes with a slight negative or opportunistic implication.

  • A lot of people go to clubs looking for a pickup.
  • She's tired of the usual pickups and desires a deeper connection.
fling

Implies a short-term, playful, and often carefree romantic or sexual relationship. Often used to describe a temporary relationship with no long-term commitment, generally with a positive or neutral connotation.

  • Their summer fling ended when they returned to their respective cities.
  • She said she enjoyed the fling, but didn't see it going anywhere serious.
casual encounter

Describes a brief, often spontaneous interaction, typically involving some sort of intimate connection. Used in more formal or clinical settings, sometimes in discussions about the dating scene or casual relationships.

  • They had a casual encounter at a conference, and decided to stay in touch.
  • The article discusses the rise of casual encounters in modern dating culture.
hookup

Refers to a brief and often spontaneous sexual encounter. It carries a more casual and sometimes slightly negative connotation, often used among younger adults.

  • They had a hookup after the party and never spoke again.
  • Apps nowadays make finding a hookup easier than ever.

Examples of usage

  • She's just looking for a pickup, nothing serious.
  • Their relationship was just a pickup, not a long-term commitment.
Context #2 | Noun

in transportation

A small truck with an enclosed cab and open back used for transporting goods or materials.

Synonyms

lorry, truck, van.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
pickup

Refers to a small truck with an open rear cargo area, often used for personal transportation and light hauling. Popular in both urban and rural settings.

  • John uses his pickup to transport garden supplies; The roads were filled with pickups and SUVs during the morning commute
truck

A general term primarily used in American English to describe any large motor vehicle for transporting goods. Can refer to both light and heavy-duty vehicles.

  • Mike drives a truck for a living; The truck was loaded with fresh produce from the farm
van

A medium-sized vehicle, often enclosed, used for transporting goods or groups of people. Suitable for both personal and commercial use, especially for delivery services or family trips.

  • The delivery van arrived with the new appliances; They rented a van for their weekend trip
lorry

Commonly used in British English to describe a large, heavy motor vehicle for transporting goods. Suitable for discussions involving logistics and commercial transport.

  • The lorry delivered the furniture to the store; The highway was full of lorries carrying goods to different parts of the country

Examples of usage

  • The construction company used pickups to transport equipment to the site.
  • He drove a pickup truck to deliver the furniture.
Context #3 | Verb

informal

To collect or gather something, especially a person, by stopping briefly.

Synonyms

collect, fetch, gather.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
pickup

This term can also refer to a type of truck, often used for tasks involving transportation and heavy lifting.

  • He drives a pickup for his construction job
  • They used a pickup to move the furniture
collect

This implies a more deliberate and often repeated action. It is used when obtaining items or information over a period of time.

  • She loves to collect stamps from different countries
  • They collect data for their research every month
gather

This is used when bringing together multiple items or people, usually in a more formal or organized manner. It can imply a collective effort.

  • We need to gather everyone for a meeting
  • They gather information from various sources
fetch

This is used to describe the action of going somewhere to get something and bringing it back. It often implies going a little out of your way and can sometimes have an old-fashioned tone.

  • Can you fetch me a glass of water? The dog loves to fetch the ball

Examples of usage

  • I'll pickup the kids from school later.
  • Can you pickup some groceries on your way home?

Interesting Facts

Etymology

  • The term 'pickup' first appeared in English in the late 19th century, originally describing a type of horse-drawn carriage designed for carrying light loads.
  • It evolved through the 20th century to refer more broadly to any vehicle designed for transporting goods or people.

Pop Culture

  • In the world of music, 'pickup' can refer to a style of playing that engages listeners, like 'pickup lines' in songs meant to charm someone.
  • Popular TV shows often use 'pickup' in scenarios where characters meet or collect items, adding comedic or dramatic tension.

Science

  • In physics, 'pickup' can refer to sensors that collect data from various sources, such as sound waves or vibrations.
  • Pickup mechanisms, like in electric guitars, convert string vibrations into electrical signals, allowing for sound amplification.

Psychology

  • In social contexts, 'pickup' is often associated with approaches made to start conversations or date someone, highlighting human interaction dynamics.
  • The concept of 'pickup' can relate to situational awareness in psychology, where being attuned to others’ cues can influence success in social or romantic settings.

Transportation

  • Pickup trucks are a popular vehicle type known for their versatility, able to transport heavy loads while being suitable for everyday use.
  • In logistics, a 'pickup' refers to the collection of goods from a place, crucial in supply chain management.

Translations

Translations of the word "pickup" in other languages:

🇵🇹 pegar

🇮🇳 उठाना

🇩🇪 abholen

🇮🇩 mengambil

🇺🇦 підбирати

🇵🇱 odbierać

🇯🇵 拾う (ひろう)

🇫🇷 ramasser

🇪🇸 recoger

🇹🇷 almak

🇰🇷 집다

🇸🇦 التقاط

🇨🇿 vyzvednout

🇸🇰 vyzdvihnúť

🇨🇳 捡起 (jiǎn qǐ)

🇸🇮 pobrati

🇮🇸 sækja

🇰🇿 көтеру

🇬🇪 ამოღება

🇦🇿 götürmək

🇲🇽 recoger

Word Frequency Rank

Ranked #11,052, this word falls into high-advanced vocabulary. It appears less frequently but is valuable for expressing precise meanings in specific contexts.