Picked I Pick Train Home Learn Gradually Formal

1 to learn gradually, without formal teaching: I never studied Italian - I just picked it up when I was in Italy. 2 to let (someone) onto car, train etc in order to take him somewhere: I picked him up at the station and drove him home. The bus stopped at the end of the road to pick up passengers. The train only picks up at certain stations. 3 to get (something) by chance: I picked up a real bargain at the shops today. You can pick up quite He fell over and picked himself up again. 5 to collect (something) from somewhere: I ordered some meat from the butcher - I'll pick it up on my way home. 6 (of radio, radar etc ) to recieve signals: We picked up a foreign broadcast last night. 7 to find; to catch: We lost his trail but picked it up again later. The police picked up the man they wanted outside the cinema. 8 to recover (health): He has been very ill. but he's picking up again now. 9 (especially of man) to form a casual, not permenant, and usually sexual, relationship with a person of the opposite sex: He picked her up a party last Saturday.