picnic

Alternative forms

• picknick (archaic)

Etymology

Borrowed from French pique-nique.

Pronunciation

• enPR: pĭkʹ-nĭk, IPA^(key): /ˈpɪknɪk/
• Rhymes: -ɪknɪk
• Hyphenation: pic‧nic

Noun

picnic (plural picnics)

1. A meal eaten outdoors or in another informal setting.

   We went out for a picnic in the forest.

2. (figuratively) An easy or pleasant task.

   Synonym: piece of cake

   We remind the guests that dealing with this problem is no picnic, and to be patient.

   • 1936, Margaret Mitchell, Gone with the Wind

     "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. […]

3. An informal social gathering taking place outdoors, such as in a forest or a heath, to which the participants bring their own food and drink.
4. (obsolete) An entertainment at which each person contributed some dish to a common table.

Verb

picnic (third-person singular simple present picnics, present participle picnicking, simple past and past participle picnicked)

1. To eat a picnic.

Etymology

Borrowed from English picnic.

Noun

picnic m (invariable)

1. picnic (outdoor meal)

Etymology

Borrowed from English picnic.

Noun

picnic m (plural picnics)

1. picnic