Lexic.us

Definition of Pluck

1. Noun. The trait of showing courage and determination in spite of possible loss or injury.

2. Verb. Pull or pull out sharply. "Pluck the flowers off the bush"

3. Noun. The act of pulling and releasing a taut cord.

4. Verb. Sell something to or obtain something from by energetic and especially underhanded activity.

5. Verb. Rip off; ask an unreasonable price. "They pluck him of all his money"

6. Verb. Pull lightly but sharply with a plucking motion. ; "He plucked the strings of his mandolin"

7. Verb. Strip of feathers. "Pluck the capon"

8. Verb. Look for and gather. "Pick flowers"

Definition of Pluck

1. v. t. To pull; to draw.

2. v. i. To make a motion of pulling or twitching; -- usually with at; as, to pluck at one's gown.

3. n. The act of plucking; a pull; a twitch.

Definition of Pluck

1. Verb. (transitive) To pull something sharply; to pull something out ¹

2. Verb. (transitive music) To gently play a single string, e.g. on a guitar, violin etc. ¹

3. Verb. (transitive) To remove feathers from a bird. ¹

4. Verb. (transitive) To rob, fleece, steal forcibly ¹

5. Verb. (transitive) To play a string instrument pizzicato ¹

6. Verb. (intransitive) To pull or twitch sharply ¹

7. Noun. An instance of plucking ¹

8. Noun. The lungs, heart with trachea and often oesophagus removed from slaughtered animals. ¹

9. Noun. Guts, nerve, fortitude or persistence. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Pluck

1. to pull out or off [v -ED, -ING, -S]

Medical Definition of Pluck

1. 1. To pull; to draw. "Its own nature . . . Plucks on its own dissolution." (Je. Taylor) 2. Especially, to pull with sudden force or effort, or to pull off or out from something, with a twitch; to twitch; also, to gather, to pick; as, to pluck feathers from a fowl; to pluck hair or wool from a skin; to pluck grapes. "I come to pluck your berries harsh and crude." (Milton) "E'en children followed, with endearing wile, And plucked his gown to share the good man's smile." (Goldsmith) 3. To strip of, or as of, feathers; as, to pluck a fowl. "They which pass by the way do pluck her." (Ps. Lxxx.2) 4. To reject at an examination for degrees. To pluck away, to pull away, or to separate by pulling; to tear away. To pluck down, to pull down; to demolish; to reduce to a lower state. To pluck off, to pull or tear off; as, to pluck off the skin. To pluck up. To tear up by the roots or from the foundation; to eradicate; to exterminate; to destroy; as, to pluck up a plant; to pluk up a nation. To gather up; to summon; as, to pluck up courage. Origin: AS. Pluccian; akin to LG. & D. Plukken, G. Pflucken, Icel. Plokka, plukka, Dan. Plukke, Sw. Plocka. 27. 1. The act of plucking; a pull; a twitch. 2. [Prob. So called as being plucked out after the animal is killed; or cf. Gael. & Ir. Pluc a lump, a knot, a bunch] The heart, liver, and lights of an animal. 3. Spirit; courage; indomitable resolution; fortitude. "Decay of English spirit, decay of manly pluck." (Thackeray) 4. The act of plucking, or the state of being plucked, at college. See Pluck. 5. The lyrie. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Pluck

plowtered plowters plowwoman plowwomen plowwright plowwrights plowzone ploy ployed ploying

ployment ploys ployurethan pls plu pluck (current term) pluck at pluck up pluckable plucked

plucker pluckers pluckier pluckiest pluckily pluckiness pluckinesses plucking plucking post plucking posts

Literary usage of Pluck

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. The Writings of Charles Dickens by Charles Dickens, Gilbert Ashville Pierce (1894)
""We bring the compliments of Sir Mulberry Hawk, and m thousand entreaties that you 'll take a seat in a private box at the play to-night," said Mr. pluck. ..."

2. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable: Giving the Derivation, Source, Or Origin of by Ebenezer Cobham Brewer (1898)
"I'll pluck hit goose for him. Thatis: I'll cut his crest, I'll lower his ... Comparing the porson to a goose, the threat ia to pluck off his feathers in ..."

3. The life and adventures of Nicholas Nickleby by Charles Dickens (1883)
"Mrs. Nickleby cannot be ignorant," said Mr. pluck, " of the immense impression which that sweet girl has " " Of the very greatest consequence," replied Pyke ..."

Other Resources: