picar

v.

1 to bite.

me picó una avispa I was stung by a wasp

2 to peck.

la gaviota me picó (en) una mano the seagull pecked my hand

3 to chop (triturar) (vegetables).

4 to break up (piedra, hielo).

5 to chip the plaster off.

6 to annoy (informal) (enojar). (peninsular Spanish)

7 to spur on (to stimulate) (persona, caballo).

aquello me picó la curiosidad that aroused my curiosity

8 to punch (perforar) (billete, ficha).

9 to type (up) (informal) (mecanografiar).

10 to goad (bullfighting).

11 to itch (escocer) (parte del cuerpo, herida, prenda).

me pican los ojos my eyes are stinging

12 to be spicy or hot (food).

13 to nibble (tomar un aperitivo).

¿te pongo unas aceitunas para picar? would you like some olives as an aperitif?

14 to burn (sol).

15 to bounce (balón, pelota) (Latin American Spanish).

la pelota picó fuera the ball went out

16 to sting, to bite, to peck, to pick.

La abeja picó al perro The bee stung the dog.

17 to have an itch in.

Me pica la nariz I have an itch in my nose.

Le pica He has an itch.

18 to mince, to chop up, to chop, to hash.

Ella pica las verduras She minces the vegetables.

19 to be biting.

20 to burn on one's back, to be beating down, to beat down, to burn in one's back.

Este sol pica This sun beats down.

21 to pique, to spur.

Ella pica al caballo She spurred=piqued the horse.

22 to pick at.

Ella pica comida en la noche She eats food at night.

23 to have a few snacks, to have a few nibbles.

* * *

picar

Conjugation model [SACAR], like {{link=sacar}}sacar

► verbo transitivo

1 (morder - insecto) to bite; (- abeja, avispa) to sting

2 (corroer) to eat away, rot

■ tengo el coche picado de la humedad my car's all rusty from the damp

■ tengo las muelas picadas de comer tantos caramelos my teeth are bad from eating so many sweets

■ la polilla me ha picado el baúl moths have eaten away the trunk

3 (perforar - papel, tarjeta) to punch

4 (dar con un pico) to jab, goad

5 COCINA (cortar) to chop finely; (carne) to mince

6 (comida) to nibble

■ vamos a salir a picar algo we're going to get a bite to eat

7 (incitar) to arouse

■ me picó la curiosidad it aroused my curiosity

8 (herir) to wound

■ le ha picado el orgullo it has wounded his pride

9 (toro) to goad

10 (cebo) to bite

► verbo intransitivo

1 (sentir escozor) to itch

■ me pica todo el cuerpo I'm itching all over

2 (calentar) to be hot, be strong

■ hoy pica el sol en cantidad the sun's really strong today

3 (estar picante) to be hot

■ estos pimientos pican muchísimo these peppers are really hot

4 (pez) to bite; (persona) to fall for it

5 (caer en la cuenta) to cotton on, twig

6 (comer) to have a nibble

► verbo pronominal picarse

1 (muela) to decay, go bad

■ se me ha picado una muela one of my teeth has gone bad

2 (fruta) to begin to rot

3 (tela) to be moth-eaten

4 (mar) to get choppy

5 (vino) to go vinegary, go sour, go off

6 (metal) to pit

7 (ofenderse) to take offence

8 familiar (picar el orgullo) to get annoyed

9 argot (pincharse droga) to shoot up

\

FRASEOLOGÍA

picar alto to aim high

quien se pica, ajos come familiar if the cap fits, wear it

* * *

verb

1) to sting, bite

2) itch

3) punch

4) grind

* * *

1. VT

1) [con el pico, la boca] [abeja, avispa] to sting; [mosquito, serpiente, pez] to bite; [ave] to peck (at)

me ha picado un bicho en el cuello — an insect has bitten me on the neck

los pájaros han picado toda la fruta — the birds have pecked holes in o pecked (at) all the fruit

picar el anzuelo — (lit) to take o swallow the bait; (fig) to rise to the bait, fall for it *

- ¿qué mosca le habrá picado?

2) (=comer) [persona] to nibble at

he estado picando unos cacahuetes — I've been nibbling at some peanuts

he picado algo antes de comer — I had a little nibble before lunch

3) (=agujerear) [+ hoja, página] to punch a hole/some holes in; [+ billete, entrada] to punch

4) (=trocear)

a) (Culin) [+ ajo, cebolla, patata] to chop; Esp, Cono Sur [+ carne] to mince, grind (EEUU)

pica la cebolla muy picadita — chop the onion very finely

b) [+ tabaco] to cut; [+ hielo] to crush

c) [+ tierra] to dig over, break up; [+ piedra] [en trozos pequeños] to chip at; [en trozos grandes] to break up

acabó sus días picando piedra en una cantera — he ended his days breaking up stone in a quarry

5) (=provocar) [+ persona] to needle, goad; [+ caballo] to spur on

estaba siempre picándome — he was always needling o goading me

eso me picó la curiosidad — that aroused my curiosity

lo que dijiste lo picó en su amor propio — what you said wounded o hurt his pride

6) (=corroer) [+ diente, muela, madera] to rot; [+ hierro, metal] to rust; [+ cable] to corrode; [+ goma, neumático] to perish

las polillas han picado la lana — the moths have made holes in the wool

7) (Inform) [+ texto] to key in

8) (Mús) [+ nota] to play staccato

9) (Taur) [+ toro] to stick, prick ( with the goad )

10) (Mil) [+ enemigo] to harass

11) Ven * (=sablear) to scrounge *

12) Ven

*

picar el ojo a algn — to wink at sb

2. VI

1) [con el pico, la boca] [abeja, avispa] to sting; [mosquito, serpiente] to bite; [ave] to peck

2) (=comer) [persona] to nibble, snack

llevo todo el día picando — I've been nibbling o snacking all day

3) (=morder el cebo) [pez] to bite; [persona] * to fall for it *

hoy parece que no pican — it seems they aren't biting today

ha picado mucha gente — a lot of people have fallen for it *

- picar muy alto

4) (=ser picante) [comida] to be hot, be spicy

esta salsa sí que pica — this sauce is really hot o spicy

5) (=causar picor) [herida, espalda] to itch

me pica la espalda — my back itches

me pica por todo el cuerpo — I'm itching all over

me pica la barba — I've got an itchy beard

un jersey que pica — an itchy jumper

¿le pica la garganta? — do you have a tickle in your throat?, do you have a tickly throat?

me pican los ojos — my eyes are stinging o smarting

el alcohol te va a picar un poco — the alcohol is going to sting you a little

¿qué te pica? — (lit) where does it itch?; (fig) what's got into you?, what's eating you? (EEUU)

- a quien le pique que se rasque

6) [sol] to burn

hoy sí que pica el sol — the sun is really burning today

7) (=probar)

picar en algo — to dabble in sth

ha picado en todos los géneros literarios — he has dabbled in all the literary genres

8) Esp * (=llamar a la puerta) to knock

9) Cono Sur ** (=largarse) to split **

10) Esp (Aut) to pink

11)

picarle — Méx * (=darse prisa) to hurry up

12) LAm [pelota] to bounce

3.

See:

picarse

* * *

1.

verbo transitivo

1)

a) mosquito/víbora to bite; abeja/avispa to sting

¿te picaron los mosquitos? — did you get bitten by the mosquitoes?

b) polilla

una manta picada por las polillas — a moth-eaten blanket

las polillas me picaron el poncho — the moths got at my poncho

c) ave <comida> to peck at; <enemigo> to peck

d) <anzuelo> to bite

e) (fam) (comer) to eat

saca algo para picar — put out some nibbles

sólo quiero picar algo — I just want a little snack o a bite to eat

f) <billete/boleto> to punch

g) (Taur) to jab

2)

a) (Coc) <carne> (Esp, RPl) to grind (AmE), to mince (BrE); <cebolla/perejil> to chop (up); <pan/manzana> (Ven) to cut

b) <hielo> to crush; <pared> to chip; <piedra> (deshacer, romper) to break up, smash; (labrar, astillar) to work, chip away at

3) <dientes/muelas> to rot, decay

el azúcar pica los dientes — sugar rots your teeth o gives you tooth decay

4) (en billar) <bola> to put spin on

5) (Per fam) (obtener dinero de) to get (some) money from o out of

6)

a) (incitar) to spur on; (enfadar) to upset, hurt

b) <amor propio> to wound, hurt; <curiosidad> to pique, arouse

7) <papel> to perforate

8) (Mús) to play ... staccato

2.

picar vi

1)

a) (morder el anzuelo) to bite, take the bait

picar alto — to aim high

b) (comer) to nibble

2)

a) comida to be hot

b) (producir comezón) to itch; lana/suéter to itch, be itchy

me pica la espalda — my back itches o is itchy

¿te pican los ojos? — are your eyes stinging?

c) (fam) (quemar)

cómo pica el sol! — the sun's really burning o scorching!

3) (AmL) pelota to bounce

4) (RPl arg) (irse, largarse) to split (sl)

picarle — (Méx fam) to get a move on (colloq)

3.

picarse v pron

1)

a) muelas to decay, rot; manguera/llanta to perish; cacerola/pava to rust; ropa to get moth-eaten

b) manzana to go rotten; vino to go sour

2) mar to get choppy

3) (fam) (enfadarse) to get annoyed; (ofenderse) to take offense

anda picado — he's in a huff (colloq)

4) avión to nose-dive; pájaro to dive

5) (arg) (inyectarse) to shoot up (sl)

6)

picárselas — (RPl arg) (irse) to split (sl)

* * *

= mince, keyboard, smart, chop up, itch.

Ex. A rotary machine invented in Holland in the late seventeenth century did not pound but minced the rags into pulp with revolving knives.

Ex. One use of the Mouse is in free-hand drawing, but it also promises to improve drastically the way in which data can be manipulated once it has been keyboarded into a file.

Ex. The Soviet hosts, meanwhile, still smarting over myriad implications of inferiority, found themselves in the novel position of being expected to instruct and enlighten Westerners.

Ex. The writer bemoans record studios' tendency to chop up and fiddle with opera performances.

Ex. Until your skin gets use to it, it will itch but non-scented talcum powder will help, just make sure you don't inhale any of that shit.

----

* algo para picar = finger food.

* comida para picar = finger food.

* picar en una trampa = fall for + a joke, fall for + it.

* picar la curiosidad = pique + curiosity.

* que pica = itchy [itchier -comp., itchiest -sup.].

* * *

1.

verbo transitivo

1)

a) mosquito/víbora to bite; abeja/avispa to sting

¿te picaron los mosquitos? — did you get bitten by the mosquitoes?

b) polilla

una manta picada por las polillas — a moth-eaten blanket

las polillas me picaron el poncho — the moths got at my poncho

c) ave <comida> to peck at; <enemigo> to peck

d) <anzuelo> to bite

e) (fam) (comer) to eat

saca algo para picar — put out some nibbles

sólo quiero picar algo — I just want a little snack o a bite to eat

f) <billete/boleto> to punch

g) (Taur) to jab

2)

a) (Coc) <carne> (Esp, RPl) to grind (AmE), to mince (BrE); <cebolla/perejil> to chop (up); <pan/manzana> (Ven) to cut

b) <hielo> to crush; <pared> to chip; <piedra> (deshacer, romper) to break up, smash; (labrar, astillar) to work, chip away at

3) <dientes/muelas> to rot, decay

el azúcar pica los dientes — sugar rots your teeth o gives you tooth decay

4) (en billar) <bola> to put spin on

5) (Per fam) (obtener dinero de) to get (some) money from o out of

6)

a) (incitar) to spur on; (enfadar) to upset, hurt

b) <amor propio> to wound, hurt; <curiosidad> to pique, arouse

7) <papel> to perforate

8) (Mús) to play ... staccato

2.

picar vi

1)

a) (morder el anzuelo) to bite, take the bait

picar alto — to aim high

b) (comer) to nibble

2)

a) comida to be hot

b) (producir comezón) to itch; lana/suéter to itch, be itchy

me pica la espalda — my back itches o is itchy

¿te pican los ojos? — are your eyes stinging?

c) (fam) (quemar)

cómo pica el sol! — the sun's really burning o scorching!

3) (AmL) pelota to bounce

4) (RPl arg) (irse, largarse) to split (sl)

picarle — (Méx fam) to get a move on (colloq)

3.

picarse v pron

1)

a) muelas to decay, rot; manguera/llanta to perish; cacerola/pava to rust; ropa to get moth-eaten

b) manzana to go rotten; vino to go sour

2) mar to get choppy

3) (fam) (enfadarse) to get annoyed; (ofenderse) to take offense

anda picado — he's in a huff (colloq)

4) avión to nose-dive; pájaro to dive

5) (arg) (inyectarse) to shoot up (sl)

6)

picárselas — (RPl arg) (irse) to split (sl)

* * *

= mince, keyboard, smart, chop up, itch.

Ex: A rotary machine invented in Holland in the late seventeenth century did not pound but minced the rags into pulp with revolving knives.

Ex: One use of the Mouse is in free-hand drawing, but it also promises to improve drastically the way in which data can be manipulated once it has been keyboarded into a file.

Ex: The Soviet hosts, meanwhile, still smarting over myriad implications of inferiority, found themselves in the novel position of being expected to instruct and enlighten Westerners.

Ex: The writer bemoans record studios' tendency to chop up and fiddle with opera performances.

Ex: Until your skin gets use to it, it will itch but non-scented talcum powder will help, just make sure you don't inhale any of that shit.

* algo para picar = finger food.

* comida para picar = finger food.

* picar en una trampa = fall for + a joke, fall for + it.

* picar la curiosidad = pique + curiosity.

* que pica = itchy [itchier -comp., itchiest -sup.].

* * *

picar [A2 ]

vt

A

1 «mosquito/víbora» to bite; «abeja/avispa» to sting

¿te picaron los mosquitos anoche? did you get bitten by the mosquitoes last night?, did the mosquitoes get you last night? (colloq)

2

«polilla»: una manta picada por las polillas a moth-eaten blanket

las polillas me picaron el poncho the moths got at my poncho

3 «ave» ‹comida› to peck at; ‹enemigo› to peck

4 ‹anzuelo› to bite

5 (fam) (comer) to eat

picar galletas entre horas engorda muchísimo eating cookies between meals is very fattening

nos sirvió un aperitivo con algo para picar he served us a drink and some nibbles

no quiero cenar, sólo picar algo I don't want supper, just a little snack o just a bite to eat

6 ‹billete/boleto› to punch

7 (Taur) to jab; (Agr) to goad, prod

B (Méx) (con una aguja, espina) to prick

C

1 (Coc) ‹cebolla/perejil› to chop, chop … up; ‹carne› (Esp, RPl) to grind (AmE), to mince (BrE); ‹pan/manzana› (Ven) to cut

2 ‹hielo› to crush; ‹tierra› to break up; ‹pared› to chip ‹piedra› (deshacer, romper) to break up, smash; (labrar, astillar) to work, chip away at

D ‹dientes/muelas› to rot, decay

el azúcar pica los dientes sugar rots your teeth o gives you tooth decay

E (en billar) ‹bola› to put spin on

F (Per fam) (obtener dinero) to get (some) money from o out of

voy a picar a mi viejo I'm going to get some money out of my old man (colloq), I'm going to touch my old man for some money (colloq)

G

1 (incitar) to spur on; (ofender, enfadar) to upset, hurt

2 ‹amor propio› to wound, hurt; ‹curiosidad› to pique, arouse

H ‹papel› to perforate

I (Mús) to play … staccato

■ picar

vi

A

1 (morder el anzuelo) to bite, take the bait

ha picado un pez grande we've got o hooked a big one

el cliente picó the customer rose to o took the bait

le tendimos una trampa y picó we set a trap for him and he fell for it

picar alto to aim high

2 (comer) to nibble

siempre anda picando entre comidas he's always eating o nibbling between meals

B

1 «comida» to be hot

esta mostaza pica mucho this mustard's really hot, this mustard really burns your mouth

2 (producir comezón) «lana/suéter» to itch, be itchy

me pica la espalda my back itches o is itchy

¿te pican los ojos? are your eyes stinging o smarting?

3 (fam)

(quemar): ¡cómo pica el sol hoy! the sun's really burning o scorching today!

4 (Méx) pinchar vi A. (↑ pinchar)

C (AmL) «pelota» to bounce

la pelota picó fuera the ball bounced o went out

hacer picar la pelota to bounce the ball

D (Esp) «motor» to knock, pink (BrE)

E (RPl arg) (irse, largarse) to split (sl), to beat it (sl)

picarle (Méx fam); to get a move on (colloq), to move it (BrE colloq)

■ picarse

v pron

A

1 «muelas» to decay, rot; «manguera/llanta» to perish; «cacerola/pava» to rust; «ropa» to get moth-eaten

2 «manzana» to rot, go rotten; «vino» to go sour

B «mar» to get choppy

C (fam) (enfadarse) to get annoyed, get in a huff (colloq); (ofenderse) to take offense*, be piqued

hombre, no te piques; si sólo era una broma come on, don't get annoyed, it was only a joke (colloq)

anda picado he's in a huff (colloq)

D «avión» to nose-dive; «pájaro» to dive

E

1 (arg) (inyectarse) to shoot up (sl)

2 (Méx) pinchar v pron A 1. (↑ pinchar)

F

picárselas (RPl arg) (irse) to split (sl), to be off (colloq), to take off (AmE colloq)

yo me las pico I'm off (colloq)

a las nueve me las pico I have to be going o to take off at nine (colloq)

* * *

 

picar (conjugate picar) verbo transitivo
1

a) [mosquito/víbora] to bite;

[abeja/avispa] to sting;

◊ me picaron los mosquitos I got bitten by mosquitoes;

una manta picada por las polillas a moth-eaten blanket

b) [ave] ‹comida› to peck at;

‹enemigo› to peck

c) ‹anzuelo› to bite

d) (fam) (comer) to eat;

◊ solo quiero picar algo I just want a snack o a bite to eat

e) ‹billete/boleto› to punch

f) (Taur) to jab

2

a) (Coc) ‹carne› (Esp, RPl) to grind (AmE), to mince (BrE);

‹cebolla/perejil› to chop (up)

b) ‹hielo› to crush;

‹pared› to chip;
‹piedra› to break up, smash
3 ‹dientes/muelas› to rot, decay
verbo intransitivo
1

a) (morder el anzuelo) to bite, take the bait

b) (comer) to nibble

2

a) (ser picante) to be hot

b) (producir comezón) [lana/suéter] to itch, be itchy;

◊ me pica la espalda my back itches o is itchy;

me pican los ojos my eyes sting
3 (AmL) [pelota] to bounce
4 (RPl arg) (irse, largarse) to split (sl);

◊ picarle (Méx fam) to get a move on (colloq)

picarse verbo pronominal
1

a) [muelas] to decay, rot;

[manguera/llanta] to perish;
[cacerola/pava] to rust;
[ropa] to get moth-eaten

b) [manzana] to go rotten;

[vino] to go sour
2 [mar] to get choppy
3 (fam) (enfadarse) to get annoyed;
(ofenderse) to take offense
picar
I verbo transitivo
1 (carne) to mince
2 (cebolla, ajo, etc) to chop up
3 (hielo) to crush
4 (una avispa, abeja) to sting: me picó un escorpión, I was stung by a scorpion
5 (una serpiente, un mosquito) to bite
6 (tarjeta, billete) to punch
7 (piedra) to chip
8 (papel) to perforate
9 (comer: las aves) to peck
(: una persona) to nibble
picar algo, to have a snack/nibble
10 fam (incitar) to incite
11 fam (molestar) to annoy
12 (curiosidad) me picó la curiosidad, it aroused my curiosity
II verbo intransitivo
1 (pez) to bite
2 (comida) to be hot
3 (escocer, irritar) to itch: este suéter pica, this sweater is very itchy
me pica la mano, my hand is itching
4 fam (sol) to burn, scorch: hoy pica el sol, the sun is scorching today
'picar' also found in these entries:
Spanish:
rascar
- tabla
English:
bite
- chop
- clip
- crush
- grind
- itch
- mince
- nibble
- pick
- pick at
- pit
- prickle
- punch
- rise
- smart
- sting
- bounce
- chopping board
- eat
- finely
- prick
- rot
- tickle

* * *

picar

♦ vt

1. [sujeto: mosquito, serpiente] to bite;

[sujeto: avispa, escorpión] to sting;

me picó una avispa I was stung by a wasp;

picar el cebo o [m5]anzuelo [pez] to bite

2. [sujeto: ave] [comida] to peck at;

la gaviota me picó (en) una mano the seagull pecked my hand

3. [trocear] [verdura] to chop;

Esp, RP [carne] to mince; [piedra, hielo] to break up; [pared] to chip the plaster off

4. Méx [pinchar] to prick

5. [dañar, estropear] [diente, caucho, cuero] to rot;

esos caramelos terminarán picándote las muelas Br those sweets o US that candy will rot your teeth

6. [aperitivo]

picar unas aceitunas to have a few olives as an aperitif;

vamos a picar algo antes de comer let's have some nibbles before the meal;

está todo el día picando comida she's always nibbling at something or other between meals

7. Esp Fam [enojar] to annoy;

le encanta picar a su hermana he loves needling his sister

8. [estimular] [persona, caballo] to spur on;

aquello me picó la curiosidad that aroused my curiosity

9. [perforar] [billete, ficha] to punch

10. Fam [mecanografiar] to type (up)

11. Taurom to goad

12. Dep [con efecto] [balón, pelota] to chip;

[bola de billar] to screw

13. Am [botar] [balón, pelota] to bounce

14. Mús [nota] to play staccato

15. Méx Fam

picarle to get a move on;

pícale, que se nos hace tarde para el teatro get a move on, we'll be late for the play;

ya píquenle con eso, o no acabarán nunca you'd better get a move on with that or you'll never finish

16. Col [guiñar] to wink;

picarle un ojo a alguien to wink at sb

♦ vi

1. [escocer] [parte del cuerpo, herida, prenda] to itch;

¿te pica? does it itch?;

me pica mucho la cabeza my head is really itchy;

me pican los ojos my eyes are stinging

2. [estar picante] [alimento, plato] to be spicy o hot;

[cebolla] to be strong

3. [ave] to peck

4. [pez] to bite

5. [dejarse engañar] to take the bait;

no creo que pique I don't think he's going to fall for it o take the bait

6. [tomar un aperitivo] to nibble;

cosas de o [m5]para picar nibbles;

¿te pongo unas aceitunas para picar? would you like some olives as an aperitif?

7. [sol] to burn;

cuando más picaba el sol when the sun was at its hottest

8. Fam [mecanografiar] to type

9. Am [balón, pelota] to bounce;

la pelota picó fuera the ball went out

10. RP Fam [largarse] to take off

11. Comp

picar (muy) alto to have great ambitions

♦ See also the pronominal verb picarse

* * *

picar

I v/t

1 de mosquito, serpiente bite; de avispa sting; de ave peck

2 carne grind, Br

mince; verdura mince, Br

chop finely

3 piedra break (up)

4 TAUR jab with a lance

5 (molestar) annoy

6 la curiosidad pique

7 MÚS pick

II v/i

1 tb fig

take the bait

2 L.Am.

de la comida be hot o

spicy

3 (producir picor) itch

4 del sol burn

* * *

picar {72} vt

1) : to sting, to bite

2) : to peck at

3) : to nibble on

4) : to prick, to puncture, to punch (a ticket)

5) : to grind, to chop

6) : to goad, to incite

7) : to pique, to provoke

picar vi

1) : to itch

2) : to sting

3) : to be spicy

4) : to nibble

5) : to take the bait

6)

picar en : to dabble in

7)

picar muy alto : to aim too high

♦ See also the reflexive verb picarse

* * *

picar vb

1. (mosquito, serpiente, peces) to bite [pt. bit; pp. bitten]

me ha picado un mosquito I've been bitten by a mosquito

los peces no pican hoy the fish aren't biting today

2. (abeja, avispa) to sting [pt. & pp. stung]

le picó una abeja he was stung by a bee

3. (carne) to mince

el carnicero picó la carne the butcher minced the meat

4. (verduras) to chop [pt. & pp. chopped]

pica la cebolla muy fino chop the onion very finely

5. (comer) to eat [pt. ate; pp. eaten] / to nibble

ha picado antes de comer y ahora no tiene hambre she had something to eat before lunch and now she's not hungry

6. (billete) to punch

el revisor no me ha picado el billete the inspector hasn't punched my ticket

7. (comida) to be hot

las guindillas pican chilis are hot

8. (ropa, toalla, etc) to be itchy

este jersey pica this jumper is itchy

9. (caer en una trampa) to fall for it [pt. fell; pp. fallen]

le preparamos una broma y picó we played a trick on him and he fell for it