Picnic Meaning
/ˈpɪknɪk/Definition, CEFR level A2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
nounAn informal social gathering, usually in a natural outdoor setting, to which the participants bring their own food and drink.
nounThe meal eaten at such a gathering.
Sentence Examples
I think it's wonderful that you're going on a picnic.
The chill of coming winter discouraged our picnic.
The mountains provided a dramatic backdrop for our picnic.
CEFR Practice Quiz
They brought a blanket and basket for a ____ at the lake.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The family spread a blanket on the grass and enjoyed a ____ in the park on the sunny afternoon.
Word Origin & History
Etymology tree French pique-niquebor. English picnic Borrowed from French pique-nique.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
""Don't put your hand on me," said Uncle Henry irritably. "I'm crawling with lice. War would be a picnic if it wasn't for lice and dysentery. […]"
— 1936 June 30, Margaret Mitchell, Gone with the Wind, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company, →OCLC:
"Smoked picnics of medium weights - from 6 to 8 pounds - are selling at wholesale at present for about half the price of fancy hams. Standard bacon of medium weights is another smoked product that is selling […]"
— 1923, The National Provisioner, page 50:
"Smoked picnics (calas) are pork shoulders with the butt portion removed just beyond the knuckle bone. Shoulder butts are boneless […]"
— 1940, War Department Technical Manual, page 53:
"Smoked picnics are sold whole and usually fully cooked. When sold boneless they are called pork shoulder roll.
COOKING HAMS AND PICNICS
Roasting : Roast a fully cooked ham or picnic according to […]"
— 2001, Good Housekeeping, The Good Housekeeping Illustrated Cookbook, Hearst Books, →ISBN, page 218:
"And I'll never forget the chillingly instinctive racism. "Sure is pretty countryside. Pity it's spoiled by the niggers picknickin.""
— 2000, Bill Oddie, Gripping Yarns, page 71:
Explore More A2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
They brought a blanket and basket for a ____ at the lake.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The family spread a blanket on the grass and enjoyed a ____ in the park on the sunny afternoon.