Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of verb pick_at

3 senses of pick at

Sense 1
pick at, pluck at, pull at -- (pluck or pull at with the fingers; "She picked nervously at the buttons of her blouse")
       => pull -- (apply force so as to cause motion towards the source of the motion; "Pull the rope"; "Pull the handle towards you"; "pull the string gently"; "pull the trigger of the gun"; "pull your knees towards your chin")

Sense 2
pick at, peck at, peck -- (eat like a bird; "The anorexic girl just picks at her food")
       => eat -- (take in solid food; "She was eating a banana"; "What did you eat for dinner last night?")

Sense 3
disparage, belittle, pick at -- (express a negative opinion of; "She disparaged her student's efforts")
       => knock, criticize, criticise, pick apart -- (find fault with; express criticism of; point out real or perceived flaws; "The paper criticized the new movie"; "Don't knock the food--it's free")