to take hold of (somebody or something) from the ground or a lower level and lift them up
to take (passengers or goods) into a vehicle
to collect or buy (somebody or something) on one's way
to acquire (something) casually or by chance
She picked up an antique vase at a jumble sale
to acquire (information or knowledge)
I picked up a bit of French while I was abroad
to be infected with (a germ or disease)
to begin a casual relationship with (somebody), often with sexual intentions
to arrest or apprehend (somebody)
to find and follow (a trail)
to receive (a radio signal, etc)
to hear or understand (something)
I didn't pick up what he said
to increase (speed)
to resume or continue (a conversation, discussion, etc)
(+ on) to question or criticize (somebody)
I'd like to pick you up on something you just said
chiefly NAmer to clean up or tidy (a room)
to recover or improve
Business is beginning to pick up again
to resume after a break; to continue
(+ on) to resume discussion of a point
to stand up again after falling
to recover after a setback
to accept the cost of or responsibility for something