1 [count] : a small truck that has an open back with low sides —called also pickup truck; — see picture at truck 2 : the act of going somewhere to get a person or thing that you will then take to another place [noncount] ▪ The fee pays for garbage/trash pickup. ▪ Is this order for pickup or delivery? [=do you want to come and get the order yourself, or do you want us to deliver the order to you?] ▪ Your pizza will be ready for pickup [=you can pick up your pizza] in 20 minutes. [count] ▪ The school bus was late for its afternoon pickup. ▪ The truck is scheduled to make a pickup today. 3 [count] : an increase in activity — usually + in ▪ They saw a pickup in business during the last quarter. ▪ Several of our stores have reported a pickup in orders. ▪ a pickup in consumer spending 4 [noncount] US : the ability of a vehicle to increase speed quickly
▪ The car corners well and has good pickup. [=(more formally) acceleration] 5 [count] : a person you meet and have a usually brief sexual relationship with
▪ He looked for pickups in singles bars. 6 [count] : a device on a musical instrument (such as an electric guitar) that makes sounds louder by changing them into electrical signals
▪ a guitar pickup 7 [count] sports : a player who becomes part of a team after being obtained from another team
▪ He joined the team as a free agent pickup last summer.