pick up

verb

1. take and lift upward
2. take up by hand"He picked up the book and started to read"
3. give a passenger or a hitchhiker a lift"We picked up a hitchhiker on the highway"
4. gather or collect"You can get the results on Monday"
5. get to know or become aware of, usually accidentally"I learned that she has two grown-up children"
6. get in addition, as an increase"The candidate picked up thousands of votes after his visit to the nursing home"
7. take into custody"the police nabbed the suspected criminals"
8. buy casually or spontaneously"I picked up some food for a snack"
9. register (perceptual input)"pick up a signal"
10. lift out or reflect from a background"The scarf picks up the color of the skirt"
11. meet someone for sexual purposes"he always tries to pick up girls in bars"
12. fill with high spirits; fill with optimism"Music can uplift your spirits"