1. to choose or select from among a group: to pick a contestant from the audience. 2. to seek and find occasion for; provoke: to pick a fight. 3. to attempt to find; seek out: to pick flaws in an argument. 4. to steal the contents of: Her pocket was picked yesterday. 5. to open (a lock) with a device other than the key, as a sharp instrument or wire, esp. for the purpose of burglary.