Verb

(acquir)

To get.

To gain, usually by one's own exertions; to get as one's own, as, to acquire a title, riches, knowledge, skill, good or bad habits.

* (Isaac Barrow) (1630-1677)

No virtue is acquired in an instant, but step by step.

* (William Blackstone) (1723-1780)

Descent is the title whereby a man, on the death of his ancestor, acquires his estate, by right of representation, as his heir at law.

*{{quote-book, year=1922, author=(Michael Arlen), chapter=3/19/2, title= “Piracy”: A Romantic Chronicle of These Days

, passage=Ivor had acquired more than a mile of fishing rights with the house?; he was not at all a good fisherman, but one must do something?; one generally, however, banged a ball with a squash-racket against a wall.}}

Verb

(lb) To lift; to grasp and raise.

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To collect an object, especially in passing.

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*

*:"I don't want to spoil any comparison you are going to make," said Jim, "but I was at Winchester and New College." ¶ "That will do," said Mackenzie. "I was dragged up at the workhouse school till I was twelve. Then I ran away and sold papers in the streets, and anything else that I could pick up a few coppers by—except steal."

To clean up; to return to an organized state.

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*1967 , (Beverly Cleary), (Mitch and Amy) , 2009 edition, ISBN 9780688108069, p.28:

*:The floor was strewn with bright snips of origami paper, a crumpled drawing, and one dirty sock, which Amy now shoved under the bed with her foot. ¶ "You're lucky," said Marla. "My mother makes me pick up my room every single day."

(lb) To collect a passenger.

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(lb) To collect and detain (a suspect).

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(lb) To improve, increase or speed up.

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(lb) To restart or resume.

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*2012 July 18, Scott Tobias, AV Club The Dark Knight Rises

*:Picking up eight years after The Dark Knight left off, the film finds Gotham enjoying a tenuous peace based on Harvey Dent’s moral ideals rather than the ugly truth of his demise.

(lb) To learn, to grasp; to begin to understand.

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(lb) To receive (a radio signal or the like).

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To notice, detect or discern, often used with "on".

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(lb) To point out (a person's behaviour, habits or actions) in a critical manner.

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To meet and seduce somebody for romantic purposes, especially in a social situation.

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To answer a telephone. See pick up the phone.

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To pay for.

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To reduce the despondency of.

*1973 (released 1974), (Lynard Skynyrd), (Sweet Home Alabama)

*:they pick' me ' up when I'm feeling blue

To take control (physically) of something.

*{{quote-news, year=2010, date=December 29, author=Chris Whyatt, work=BBC

, title= Chelsea 1-0 Bolton , passage=Bolton were then just inches from taking the lead, but the dangerous-looking Taylor drilled just wide after picking up a loose ball following Jose Bosingwa's poor attempted clearance.}}

(lb) To mark, to defend against an opposition player by following them closely.

*{{quote-news, year=2011, date=January 18, author=David Dulin, work=BBC

, title= Cardiff 0-2 Stoke , passage=And soon after, no-one picked up Shotton who was free to power a 12-yard header over from another Pennant corner, before Pennant sent a free kick straight at Cardiff keeper Tom Heaton.}}

To record, to notch up.

*{{quote-news, year=2011, date=September 28, author=Tom Rostance, work=BBC Sport

, title= Arsenal 2-1 Olympiakos , passage=And the home side survived without any late scares to pick up the first win of their Group F campaign.}}