pluck

• POS: Noun, Verb (transitive)
• COUNT in NET: 3 in 3 verses (in OT : 3 in 3 verses)

CIDE DICTIONARY

pluck, v. t. [AS. pluccian; akin to LG. & D. plukken, G. pflÜcken, Icel. plokka, plukka, Dan. plukke, Sw. plocka. 27.].

•  To pull; to draw.  [1913 Webster]

  "Its own nature . . . plucks on its own dissolution."  [1913 Webster]
•  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.  [1913 Webster]

  "I come to pluck your berries harsh and crude."  [1913 Webster]

  "E'en children followed, with endearing wile,
  And plucked his gown to share the good man's smile."  [1913 Webster]
•  To strip of, or as of, feathers; as, to pluck a fowl.  [1913 Webster]

  "They which pass by the way do pluck her."  [1913 Webster]
•  To reject at an examination for degrees.  C. Bront'82.  [1913 Webster]

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. (a) To tear up by the roots or from the foundation; to eradicate; to exterminate; to destroy; as, to pluck up a plant; to pluck up a nation. Jer. xii. 17. (b) To gather up; to summon; as, to pluck up courage.

pluck, v. i. 

 To make a motion of pulling or twitching; -- usually with at; as, to pluck at one's gown.  [1913 Webster]

pluck, n. 

•  The act of plucking; a pull; a twitch.  [1913 Webster]
•  The heart, liver, and lights of an animal.  [1913 Webster]
•  Spirit; courage; indomitable resolution; fortitude.  [1913 Webster]

  "Decay of English spirit, decay of manly pluck."  [1913 Webster]
•  The act of plucking, or the state of being plucked, at college. See Pluck, v. t., 4.  [1913 Webster]
•  The lyrie.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

pluck, v. & n.
--v.
1 tr. (often foll. by out, off, etc.) remove by picking or pulling out or away.
2 tr. strip (a bird) of feathers.
3 tr. pull at, twitch.
4 intr. (foll. by at) tug or snatch at.
5 tr. sound (the string of a musical instrument) with the finger or plectrum etc.
6 tr. plunder.
7 tr. swindle.
--n.
1 courage, spirit.
2 an act of plucking; a twitch.
3 the heart, liver, and lungs of an animal as food.

Idiom

pluck up summon up (one's courage, spirits, etc.).

Derivative

plucker n. pluckless adj.

Etymology

OE ploccian, pluccian, f. Gmc

THESAURUS

pluck

accumulate, amass, assemble, avulse, backbone, bare, bleed, bleed white, bob, boldness, bottle, bottom, bravery, bring in, bring together, bust, catch at, chutzpah, collect, courage, crop, crop herbs, cull, cut, cut out, dauntlessness, denudate, denude, deplume, deracinate, despoil, determination, dig, dig out, dig up, disentangle, displume, divest, drain, draw, draw out, dredge, dredge up, dry, eradicate, evolve, evulse, excavate, excise, exhaust, expose, exsect, extract, extricate, fail, flay, fleece, flick, flip, flirt, flounce, flunk, flunk out, fortitude, gameness, gather, gather in, get in, get out, get together, glean, gouge out, grab, grabble, grit, grub, grub up, guts, gutsiness, guttiness, hardiness, harvest, hay, heart, heart of oak, hitch, impoverish, intestinal fortitude, intrepidity, jerk, jig, jigger, jigget, jiggle, jog, joggle, lay bare, lay open, mettle, mettlesomeness, milk, mine, mow, moxie, nerve, nut, pick, pick clean, pick out, pick up, pith, pluck out, pluck up, pluckiness, plunk, pull, pull out, pull up, quarry, rake out, rake up, reap, reap and carry, remove, resolution, resolve, rip out, root out, root up, round up, sand, scare up, scrape together, scrape up, shear, skin, snake, snatch, spirit, spunk, spunkiness, stamina, start, steadfastness, stout heart, stoutness, strip, strip bare, strum, sturdiness, suck dry, sudden pull, sweep the strings, take out, take up, tear out, thrum, toughness, true grit, twang, tweak, twitch, uncloak, uncover, unearth, unravel, unsheathe, unveil, uproot, vellicate, wash out, weed out, withdraw, wrench, wrest out, yank, yerk

ROGET THESAURUS

pluck

Resolution

N resolution, determination, will, iron will, unconquerable will, will of one's own, decision, resolution, backbone, clear grit, true grit, grit, sand, strength of mind, strength of will, resolve, firmness, energy, manliness, vigor, game, pluck, resoluteness, zeal, aplomb, desperation, devotion, devotedness, mastery over self, self control, self command, self possession, self reliance, self government, self restraint, self conquest, self denial, moral courage, moral strength, perseverance, tenacity, obstinacy, bulldog, British lion, resolved, determined, strong-willed, strong-minded, resolute, self-possessed, decided, definitive, peremptory, tranchant, unhesitating, unflinching, unshrinking, firm, iron, gritty, indomitable, game to the backbone, inexorable, relentless, not to be shaken, not to be put down, tenax propositi, inflexible, obstinate, steady, earnest, serious, set upon, bent upon, intent upon, steel against, proof against, in utrumque paratus, resolutely, in earnest, in good earnest, seriously, joking apart, earnestly, heart and soul, on one's mettle, manfully, like a man, with a high hand, with a strong hand, at any rate, at any risk, at any hazard, at any price, at any cost, at any sacrifice, at all hazards, at all risks, at all events, a' bis ou a blanc, cost what it may, coute, a tort et a travers, once for all, neck or nothing, rain or shine, spes sibi quisque, celui qui veut celui-la peut, chi non s'arrischia non guadagna, frangas non flectes, manu forti, tentanda via est.

Perseverance

N perseverance, continuance, permanence, firmness, constancy, steadiness, singleness of purpose, tenacity of purpose, persistence, plodding, patience, sedulity, pertinacy, pertinacity, pertinaciousness, iteration, bottom, game, pluck, stamina, backbone, grit, indefatigability, indefatigableness, bulldog courage, persevering, constant, steady, steadfast, undeviating, unwavering, unfaltering, unswerving, unflinching, unsleeping, unflagging, undrooping, steady as time, unrelenting, unintermitting, unremitting, plodding, industrious, strenuous, pertinacious, persisting, persistent, solid, sturdy, staunch, stanch, true to oneself, unchangeable, unconquerable, indomitable, game to the last, indefatigable, untiring, unwearied, never tiring, through evil report and good report, through thick and thin, through fire and water, per fas et nefas, without fail, sink or swim, at any price, vogue la galere, never say die, give it the old college try, vestigia nulla retrorsum, aut vincer aut mori, la garde meurt et ne se rend pas, tout vient a temps pour qui sait attendre.

Rejection

VB reject, set aside, lay aside, give up, decline, exclude, except, pluck, spin, cast, repudiate, scout, set at naught, fling to the winds, fling to the dogs, fling overboard, fling away, cast to the winds, cast to the dogs, cast overboard, cast away, throw to the winds, throw to the dogs, throw overboard, throw away, toss to the winds, toss to the dogs, toss overboard, toss away, send to the right about, disclaim, discard.

Taking

VB take, catch, hook, nab, bag, sack, pocket, put into one's pocket, receive, accept, reap, crop, cull, pluck, gather, draw, appropriate, expropriate, impropriate, assume, possess oneself of, take possession of, commandeer, lay one's hands on, clap one's hands on, help oneself to, make free with, dip one's hands into, lay under contribution, intercept, scramble for, deprive of, take away, carry away, bear away, take off, carry off, bear off, adeem, abstract, hurry off with, run away with, abduct, steal, ravish, seize, pounce upon, spring upon, swoop to, swoop down upon, take by storm, take by assault, snatch, reave, snap up, nip up, whip up, catch up, kidnap, crimp, capture, lay violent hands on, get hold of, lay hold of, take hold of, catch hold of, lay fast hold of, take firm hold of, lay by the heels, take prisoner, fasten upon, grip, grapple, embrace, gripe, clasp, grab, clutch, collar, throttle, take by the throat, claw, clinch, clench, make sure of, catch at, jump at, make a grab at, snap at, snatch at, reach, make a long arm, stretch forth one's hand, take from, take away from, disseize, deduct, retrench, dispossess, ease one of, snatch from one's grasp, tear from, tear away from, wrench from, wrest from, wring from, extort, deprive of, bereave, disinherit, cut off with a shilling, oust, divest, levy, distrain, confiscate, sequester, sequestrate, accroach, usurp, despoil, strip, fleece, shear, displume, impoverish, eat out of house and home, drain, drain to the dregs, gut, dry, exhaust, swallow up, absorb, draw off, suck the blood of, suck like a leech, retake, resume, recover.

Stealing

VB steal, thieve, rob, mug, purloin, pilfer, filch, prig, bag, nim, crib, cabbage, palm, abstract, appropriate, plagiarize, convey away, carry off, abduct, kidnap, crimp, make off with, walk off with, run off with, run away with, spirit away, seize, plunder, pillage, rifle, sack, loot, ransack, spoil, spoliate, despoil, strip, sweep, gut, forage, levy blackmail, pirate, pickeer, maraud, lift cattle, poach, smuggle, run, badger, bail up, hold up, stick up, bunco, bunko, filibuster, swindle, peculate, embezzle, sponge, mulct, rook, bilk, pluck, pigeon, fleece, defraud, obtain under false pretenses, live by one's wits, rob Peter to pay Paul, borrow of Peter to pay Paul, set a thief to catch a thief, disregard the distinction between meum and tuum, fence, launder, launder money.

Courage

N courage, bravery, valor, resoluteness, boldness, spirit, daring, gallantry, intrepidity, contempt of danger, defiance of danger, derring-do, audacity, rashness, dash, defiance, confidence, self-reliance, manliness, manhood, nerve, pluck, mettle, game, heart, heart of grace, spunk, guts, face, virtue, hardihood, fortitude, intestinal fortitude, firmness, heart of oak, bottom, backbone, spine, resolution, bulldog courage, prowess, heroism, chivalry, exploit, feat, achievement, heroic deed, heroic act, bold stroke, man, man of mettle, hero, demigod, Amazon, Hector, lion, tiger, panther, bulldog, gamecock, fighting-cock, bully, fire eater, courageous, brave, valiant, valorous, gallant, intrepid, spirited, spiritful, high-spirited, high-mettled, mettlesome, plucky, manly, manful, resolute, stout, stout-hearted, iron-hearted, lion-hearted, heart of oak, Penthesilean, bold, bold-spirited, daring, audacious, fearless, dauntless, dreadless, aweless, undaunted, unappalled, undismayed, unawed, unblanched, unabashed, unalarmed, unflinching, unshrinking, unblanching, unapprehensive, confident, self-reliant, bold as a lion, bold as brass, enterprising, adventurous, venturous, venturesome, dashing, chivalrous, soldierly, heroic, fierce, savage, pugnacious, strong-minded, hardy, doughty, firm, determined, dogged, indomitable, up to, up to the scratch, upon one's mettle, reassured, unfeared, undreaded, one's blood being up, courage sans peur, fortes fortuna adjuvat, have I not in my time heard lions roar, I dare do all that may become a man, male vincetis sed vincite, omne solum forti patria, self-trust is the essence of heroism, stimulos dedit oemula virtus, strong and great, a hero, teloque animus proestantior omni, there, is always safety in valor, virtus ariete fortier.

Deception

VB deceive, take in, defraud, cheat, jockey, do, cozen, diddle, nab, chouse, play one false, bilk, cully, jilt, bite, pluck, swindle, victimize, abuse, mystify, blind one's eyes, blindfold, hoodwink, throw dust into the eyes, dupe, gull, hoax, fool, befool, bamboozle, flimflam, hornswoggle, trick, impose upon, practice upon, play upon, put upon, palm off on, palm upon, foist upon, snatch a verdict, bluff off, bluff, bunko, four flush, gum, spoof, stuff (a ballot box), circumvent, overreach, outreach, out wit, out maneuver, steal a march upon, give the go-by, to leave in the lurch decoy, waylay, lure, beguile, delude, inveigle, entrap, intrap, ensnare, nick, springe, set a trap, lay a trap, lay a snare for, bait the hook, forelay, spread the toils, lime, trapan, trepan, kidnap, let in, hook in, nousle, nousel, blind a trail, enmesh, immesh, shanghai, catch, catch in a trap, sniggle, entangle, illaqueate, hocus, escamoter, practice on one's credulity, hum, humbug, gammon, stuff up, sell, play a trick upon one, play a practical joke upon one, put something over on one, put one over on, balk, trip up, throw a tub to a whale, fool to the top of one's bent, send on a fool's errand, make game, make a fool of, make an April fool of, make an ass of, trifle with, cajole, flatter, come over, gild the pill, make things pleasant, divert, put a good face upon, dissemble, cog, cog the dice, load the dice, stack the deck, live by one's wits, play at hide and seek, obtain money under false pretenses, conjure, juggle, practice chicanery, deacon, play off, palm off, foist off, fob-off, lie, misinform, mislead, betray, be deceived.