picky

adj, noun — 3 senses

picky

adj

/ˈpɪki/

Etymology From pick + -y.

1

Fussy; particular; demanding to have things just right.

  • I am very picky about the way my kitchen is laid out.
  • Most of the pickiest children were actually in the middle weight group, though a few were underweight and a few were overweight.2018 June 4, Perri Klass, M.D., “When New Means No: Picky Eating as a Normal Toddler Phase”, in The New York Times:
1 more example
  • Singletons have become 'pickier' about their potential partners following the pandemic, one dating expert has claimed - insisting they are now even more concerned about the 'pink flags' that could lead to 'red flag scenarios'.2021 December 12, Jessica Green, “The subtle signs YOUR relationship is set to fail: Relationship expert reveals the 'less-obvious' warning signals - including watching TOO much TV and not taking photos together”, in Daily Mail, London: DMG Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 19 Dec 2021:
2

UK, Colloquial Of food or a meal: consisting of various small items from which the diner can pick and choose.

  • picky bits
  • picky tea
1 more example
  • […] a picky meal of bean-sprouts and humous […]1988, Jan Webster, One Little Room, page 240:
Synonyms
anal-retentive, choosy, finicky, fussy, particular, pedantic
Derived terms
overpicky, pickily, pickiness, picky bit, picky tea, spicky plate

picky

noun

Etymology From pick + -y.

1

Informal A picture.

  • And who knows, I might do a few pickies of you - fully clothed, needless to say.1988, Alan Hollinghurst, The Swimming-Pool Library, paperback edition, London: Penguin Books, →ISBN, page 44:
Synonyms
pic
Related terms
nitpicky, picky eater, picky head

Entry derived from the Wiktionary, under licence CC BY-SA 4.0 — list of authors.