picky

Fussy; particular; demanding to have things just right.

Adjective

  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...
    • 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...
  2. Of food or a meal: consisting of various small items from which the diner can pick and choose.
    • picky bits
    • picky tea
    • […] a picky meal of bean-sprouts and humous […] - 1988, Jan Webster, One Little Room, page 240:

Origin

Etymology tree English pick Proto-Indo-European *-kos Proto-Germanic *-gaz Proto-West Germanic *-g Old English -iġ Middle English -y English -y English picky From pick + -y.

Forms

pickier pickiest

Synonyms

anal-retentive choosy finicky fussy particular pedantic

Derived

overpicky pickily pickiness picky bit picky tea spicky plate

Noun

  1. 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:

Forms

pickies piccy

Synonyms

pic

Related

nitpicky picky eater picky head