pluck

word

/ˈpɫək/
/plˈʌk/

Definition

To pull something quickly and sharply from its place, such as a flower from the ground, a hair, or feathers from a bird. Also, to play the strings of an instrument by pulling and releasing them with your fingers.

Usage & Nuances

'Pluck' is commonly used for flowers, hair, feathers, or small objects; for stringed instruments, it means playing by pulling the strings. It can also mean 'showing courage' (as a noun: 'She showed a lot of pluck'), but this usage is rare in modern speech. For removing hair, 'pluck' is more precise than 'pull out'.

Example Sentences

She plucked a rose from the garden.

basic

He plucked a gray hair from his head.

basic

The musician plucked the strings of the guitar.

basic

She carefully plucked her eyebrows in front of the mirror.

natural

Farmers pluck chickens before cooking them.

natural

If the fruit is ripe, it should be easy to pluck from the tree.

natural