pickup

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. The act or process of picking up: the pickup and delivery of farm produce.
2. n. Sports The act of striking or fielding a ball after it has touched the ground: a good pickup and throw from third base.
3. n. Capacity for acceleration: a sports car with good pickup.
4. n. Informal An improvement in condition or activity: a pickup in sales.
5. n. Slang An arrest by a law enforcement officer.
6. n. One that is picked up, especially:
7. n. Passengers or freight: Taxi drivers expect good tips from airport pickups.
8. n. Informal A hitchhiker.
9. n. Slang A stranger with whom casual acquaintance is made, usually in anticipation of sexual relations.
10. n. Accounting A balance brought forward.
11. n. Previous journalistic copy to which succeeding copy is added.
12. n. Music See upbeat.
13. n. One that picks up, especially:
14. n. A pickup truck.
15. n. The rotary rake on a piece of machinery, such as a harvester, that picks up windrowed hay or straw.
16. n. Electronics A device that converts the oscillations of a phonograph needle into electrical impulses for subsequent conversion into sound.
17. n. Electronics The tone arm of a record player.
18. n. The reception of light or sound waves for conversion to electrical impulses.
19. n. The apparatus used for such reception.
20. n. A telecast originating outside a studio.
21. n. The apparatus for transmitting a broadcast from an outside place to the broadcasting station.
22. adj. Being, relating to, or involving a group of people assembled informally for a temporary purpose: a pickup orchestra; a pickup baseball game.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. Composed of such things or fragments as are immediately available, or can be got together; “scratch”: as, a pick-up dinner.
2. n. In printing, types already composed and previously used, claimed by the type-setter as his own composition.

Wiktionary

1. n. An electronic device for detecting sound, vibration, etc., such as one fitted to an electric guitar or record player.
2. n. US, Canada A pickup truck.
3. n. attributive Impromptu or ad hoc, especially of sports games.
4. n. An instance of approaching someone and engaging in romantic flirtation and courting with the intent to pursue romance, a date, or a sexual encounter. See also pick-up line, pick-up joint, pickup artist.
5. n. video games An item that can be picked up by the player, conferring some benefit or effect; a power-up.
6. n. US, Canada The act of a challenging party or candidate winning an electoral district held by an incumbent party or candidate. See also gain
7. n. The act of answering a telephone.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. Act of picking up, as, in various games, the fielding or hitting of a ball just after it strikes the ground.
2. n. (Elec.) That which picks up same as Brush b.
3. n. One that is picked up, as a meal hastily got up for the occasion, a chance acquaintance, an informal game, etc.
4. n. a social companion for the evening who is met without prior arrangement, as at a singles bar; also, the act of joining with such a companion in that fashion.
5. n. (Automobiles) acceleration; a measure of the ability of a vehicle to accelerate.
6. n. (Electronics) a component of a phonograph which contains the stylus and also components for converting the vibrations of the stylus into electrical impulses for subsequent processing into sound; often referred to as a cartridge; also, the process of converting vibrations into electrical impulses.
7. n. (Electronics) the conversion of sound or light into electrical signals in a sound or image recording or transmitting device.
8. n. (Vehicles) a small truck having an enclosed driver's compartment (cab) but an open rear with usually low sides and a tailgate. Also called pickup truck.
9. n. a hitchhiker who has been picked up.

WordNet 3.0

1. v. get in addition, as an increase
2. v. eat by pecking at, like a bird
3. v. fill with high spirits; fill with optimism
4. v. get to know or become aware of, usually accidentally
5. v. take into custody
6. v. register (perceptual input)
7. v. lift out or reflect from a background
8. v. give a passenger or a hitchhiker a lift
9. v. take up by hand
10. v. meet someone for sexual purposes
11. v. take and lift upward
12. v. gain or regain energy
13. v. perceive with the senses quickly, suddenly, or momentarily
14. v. buy casually or spontaneously
15. v. improve significantly; go from bad to good
16. v. gather or collect
17. n. anything with restorative powers
18. n. the act of taking aboard passengers or freight
19. n. a light truck with an open body and low sides and a tailboard
20. n. an electro-acoustic transducer that is the part of the arm of a record player that holds the needle and that is removable
21. n. a casual acquaintance; often made in hope of sexual relationships
22. n. the attribute of being capable of rapid acceleration
23. n. the act or process of picking up or collecting from various places
24. n. mechanical device consisting of a light balanced arm that carries the cartridge
25. n. a warrant to take someone into custody