S: (v) pick up (take up by hand) "He picked up the book and started to read"
S: (v) pick up (give a passenger or a hitchhiker a lift) "We picked up a hitchhiker on the highway"
S: (v) collect, pick up, gather up, call for (gather or collect) "You can get the results on Monday"; "She picked up the children at the day care center"; "They pick up our trash twice a week"
S: (v) turn around, pick up (improve significantly; go from bad to good) "Her performance in school picked up"
S: (v) catch, pick up (perceive with the senses quickly, suddenly, or momentarily) "I caught the aroma of coffee"; "He caught the allusion in her glance"; "ears open to catch every sound"; "The dog picked up the scent"; "Catch a glimpse"
S: (v) peck, pick up (eat by pecking at, like a bird)
S: (v) eat (take in solid food) "She was eating a banana"; "What did you eat for dinner last night?"
S: (v) wash down (eat food accompanied by lots of liquid; also use metaphorically) "She washed down her dinner with a bottle of red wine"; "He washes down his worries with a nightly glass of whisky"
S: (v) nibble, pick, piece (eat intermittently; take small bites of) "He pieced at the sandwich all morning"; "She never eats a full meal--she just nibbles"