pickup
pickup Lexical Profile
pickup Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A small motor truck featuring an enclosed cab and an open cargo bed with low sides and a tailgate.
"The contractor loaded the lumber and toolboxes into the back of his pickup before heading to the job site."
An act or instance of collecting passengers, goods, mail, or other items from a designated location.
"Please schedule your package pickup before noon so the courier can include it on the afternoon route."
An improvement or acceleration in activity, growth, speed, or business after a period of slowness.
"Retailers across the region reported a noticeable pickup in consumer spending during the holiday season."
A transducer on a stringed musical instrument, such as an electric guitar, that converts mechanical string vibrations into electrical signals for amplification.
"The guitarist replaced the bridge pickup on her instrument to achieve a warmer, more resonant tone."
• adjective
Informal, impromptu, or organized on the spur of the moment among whoever happens to be present (especially of a sports game or musical group).
"Every Saturday morning, the local community center hosts a lively pickup basketball game."
Word Nuance & Usage
The closed compound 'pickup' functions as a noun or adjective (as in 'a pickup truck' or 'order pickup'), whereas the two-word phrase 'pick up' is the phrasal verb (as in 'to pick up the package').